salver

salver
\ \ [17] The word salver recalls the ancient practice of paranoid monarchs employing a special servant to taste their food before it was committed to the royal mouth, in case it was poisoned. The Spanish term for this was salva, a derivative of the verb salvarsave’, hence ‘make safe, try something out to make sure it is safe’, which in turn was descended from Latin salvāresave’ (source of English save). By extension the Spanish noun came to be used for a tray on which the tested food was presented to the king, and it passed into French as salve. When English adopted it, the ending -er was added, perhaps on the model of platter.
\ \ Cf.SAVE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Salver — ist der Name folgender Personen: Jan Hendrik Salver (* 1969), deutscher Fußballschiedsrichter Johann Salver (1670–1738), Hof und Universitätskupferstecher in Würzburg Johann Octavian Salver (1732–1788), deutscher Genealoge …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Salver — Sal ver, n. [Sp. salva pregustation, the tasting of viands before they are served, salver, fr. salvar to save, to taste, to prove the food or drink of nobles, from L. salvare to save. See {Save}.] A tray or waiter on which anything is presented.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • salver — [sal′vər] n. [altered < Fr salve < Sp salva, the testing of food by a taster, hence tray on which food was placed, salver < salvar, to taste, save < L salvare: see SAVE1] a tray on which refreshments, letters, visiting cards, etc. are …   English World dictionary

  • Salver — Salv er, n. One who salves, or uses salve as a remedy; hence, a quacksalver, or quack. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Salver — Sal ver, n. [Cf. {Salvage}.] A salvor. Skeat. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • salver — 1660s, tray, formed in English on the model of platter, etc., from Fr. salve tray used for presenting objects to the king, from Sp. salva a testing of food or drink to test for poison (a procedure known as pre gustation), hence tray on which food …   Etymology dictionary

  • salver — ► NOUN ▪ a tray, typically one made of silver and used in formal circumstances. ORIGIN French salve tray for presenting food to the king , from Spanish salva sampling of food …   English terms dictionary

  • Salver — A salver is a flat tray of silver or other metal used for carrying or serving glasses, cups and dishes at table or for the presenting of a letter or card by a servant. In a royal or noble household the fear of poisoning led to the custom of… …   Wikipedia

  • salver — UK [ˈsælvə(r)] / US [ˈsælvər] noun [countable] Word forms salver : singular salver plural salvers a flat metal object like a large plate, used for serving food or drinks …   English dictionary

  • salver — sal|ver [ˈsælvə US ər] n [Date: 1600 1700; : French; Origin: salve, from Spanish salva testing of food to check for poison, large metal plate on which tested food was given to the king , from salvar to save, test food , from Late Latin salvare;… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • salver — [17] The word salver recalls the ancient practice of paranoid monarchs employing a special servant to taste their food before it was committed to the royal mouth, in case it was poisoned. The Spanish term for this was salva, a derivative of the… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

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