napkin

noun

nap·​kin ˈnap-kən 

1

: a piece of material (such as cloth or paper) used at table to wipe the lips or fingers and protect the clothes

2

: a small cloth or towel: such as

a

dialectal British : handkerchief

b

chiefly Scotland : kerchief

c

chiefly British : diaper sense 3

3

: sanitary napkin

Examples of napkin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This runner comes in five sizes and is shoppable as a matching cloth napkin set. —Wendy Vazquez, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2024

The napkin is picked up by a savvy venture capitalist. —Ilya Strebulaev and Alex Dang, TIME, 22 May 2024

Jorge Mateo isn’t going anywhere — and Kyle Stowers might be back The offseason is time for wild dreams for fans, writing out lineups and 26-man rosters on coffee shop napkins. —Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2024

Here’s how people think great things happen in Silicon Valley: A bright-eyed startup founder sketches a groundbreaking idea on a napkin. —Ilya Strebulaev and Alex Dang, TIME, 22 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nappekin, from nape tablecloth, from Anglo-French, from Latin mappa napkin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing napkin

• sanitary napkin

Kids Definition

napkin

noun

nap·​kin ˈnap-kən 

1

: a small square of cloth or paper used during a meal to wipe the lips or fingers and protect the clothes

2

: a small cloth or towel

Etymology

Middle English nappekin "napkin," from nappe "tablecloth," derived from Latin mappa "napkin" — related to apron, map

Medical Definition

napkin

noun

nap·​kin ˈnap-kən 

1

chiefly British : diaper

2

: sanitary napkin