tablenapkin

This was a linen square for practical use as a handkerchief or tablenapkin, chiefly by common folk and children.

'That’s the way to do it!’ he exclaimed, crumpling up the paper object which some of the visitors called a serviette, and some a tablenapkin, the ones who called it a tablenapkin being much shocked at the ones who called it a serviette, and the ones who called it a serviette not even being aware that they thereby placed themselves irrevocably beyond the pale.

Mrs P. came out to the verandah waving her tablenapkin and saying, ‘‘Naughty girl, you are a quarter of an hour late,’’ then she ushered me to the diningroom.