napperon

Forms

napperon m (plural napperons)^[1] Middle French naperon (1391); the spelling napperon is recorded from 1845.^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is formed from French nappe + -eron, with the diminutive suffix.^[5][2][1] Nappe goes back to Latin mappa (“napkin, cloth”), whose /m/ became /n/ by dissimilation before the following /p/.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1391, in an archive document quoted by Godefroy, for a small cloth laid over the large tablecloth to keep it from stains.^[5][7][4]

Semantic evolution

Littré still describes it as a small cloth laid on the large one and usually taken off at dessert.^[8] The modern sense, a small decorative cloth, often embroidered, set on a table or a piece of furniture, is dated to 1912 by the TLFi and Rey,^[5][9] but to the Académie of 1835 by the GLLF.^[7] A rare verb napperonner “to cover with a napperon” was formed from it.^[9][5]

Timeline

• 1391 – Naperon is recorded for a small cloth over the tablecloth.^[5][2]
• 1835 – The Académie records the word.^[5][7]
• 1845 – The spelling napperon is recorded.^[3]
• 1912 – A trade catalogue lists the napperon as a cover for a stand or bedside table.^[5][9]

Meanings

Noun

1. A small, usually embroidered or worked piece of cloth that decorates or protects a table or piece of furniture, or is placed under a lamp or vase; a doily.^[10][3][1]
2. A place mat set under each place at table.^[3][1]
3. (dated) A small cloth laid over the tablecloth to protect it during the meal.^[5][8]

Related words

• nappe
• napper

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Godefroy, Frédéric (1881–1902), Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IXe au XVe siècle, 10 vols., Paris: Vieweg / Bouillon
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)