Added 9 October 2026
napkin
/ˈnæpˌkɪn/ noun
In Latin: mappa, mantele, orarium Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about napkin at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A serviette; a (usually rectangular) piece of cloth or paper used at the table for wiping the mouth and hands for cleanliness while eating.
- A nappy (UK), a diaper (American).
- A small scarf worn on the head by Christian women (chiefly Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox) when entering a church, as a token of modesty.
Origin
From Middle English napekyn, napkyn, equivalent to nape (“cloth”) + -kin (diminutive suffix).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)