napery

English

Etymology

From Middle English naperie, from Anglo-Norman naperie, Middle French naperie, from Old French nape + -erie.

Noun

napery (countable and uncountable, plural naperies)

1. Household linen, especially table linen.
   • 1902, Josephine Spenser, Corner in Chrysanthemums:

     She led the way through a wide hall into a charming room, where a table was already spread in its dainty napery and silver.

   • 1949 September and October, “The New Tavern Cars”, in Railway Magazine, page 282:

     Many will have pleasing recollections of the attractive effect, especially on a winter evening, of a dining car or Pullman train, with its shaded table-lamps throwing their light on napery, cutlery, and glass to give a heartening picture of well-being.

   • 1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber, published 1992, page 106:

     Banter and low laughter swayer about the huge tent, swayed among the shadows thrown by the brilliant candelabra pendant on their inverted stems above the white napery of the central table.

Anagrams

• penary, pyrena

Middle English

Noun

napery

1. Alternative form of naperie