napkin English · revision 1411

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1384}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈnæpˌkɪn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|napekin]], [[m|enm|nappekin]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Klein 1966) formed from [[m|enm|nape|t=tablecloth]], from [[fro|nape]], [[m|fro|nappe|t=tablecloth, cloth, towel]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la|mappa|t=napkin, small cloth]] (see [[map]]),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023) and the diminutive suffix [[-kin]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The change of Latin ''m'' to ''n'' was a tendency in Old French,^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) and the Old French diminutive was [[m|fro|naperon]], the source of [[apron]].^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A square piece of linen used at meals to wipe the fingers or lips and protect the clothes (1384–85 in Barnhart; late 14th century in Etymonline; 1420 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word is no longer felt as a diminutive.^(Etymonline) From the 16th century it also meant a handkerchief (1530), now only in Scotland and northern England,^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) and a small towel (1687).^(OED 1989) In Bible translations it rendered Greek ''soudárion'' (1526),^(OED 1989) and the old verb ''to napkin'' meant to wrap up or hide away (1621).^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) From 1845 a ''napkin'' was also a baby's undergarment,^(OED 1989) which in Britain is now usually called a [[nappy]],^(Collins 2023) and in American use the word also means a [[sanitary napkin]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1384–85 – a table napkin.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1526 – rendering Greek ''soudárion''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1530 – a handkerchief.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1621 – verb, to hide away.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1845 – a baby's nappy.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A piece of cloth or absorbent paper used at table to protect the clothes and to wipe the lips and fingers; a [[serviette]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A small cloth or towel.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A [[sanitary napkin]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' A baby's [[diaper]] or [[nappy]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(Scotland, northern England)'' A handkerchief.^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[napkin ring]]

+ * [[sanitary napkin]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[map]]

+ * [[apron]]

+ * [[napery]]

+ * [[nappy]]

+ * [[serviette]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}