Cutlery
Cutlery
Cutlery (pronunciation: /ˈkʌtləri/), also known as silverware, tableware, or flatware, is a broad term that refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in Western culture. The etymology of the word "cutlery" is derived from the Old French 'coutelier' which comes from 'coutel' meaning knife (modern French: couteau).
Types of Cutlery
- Knife - A tool with a cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with most having a handle.
- Fork - A utensil, usually metal, used for picking up and eating food.
- Spoon - A utensil consisting of a small shallow bowl, oval or round, at the end of a handle.
- Chopsticks - A pair of small even-length tapered sticks, usually of wood or bamboo, used for eating Asian food.
History
The history of cutlery probably begins with the shell and the sharp flint used for cutting. The primitive people must have used these before they used knives. The early history of cutlery is more or less the history of the knife. It was not until the 14th century that the fork, a Italian invention, was added to the place setting. The last addition was the spoon, which was already in existence, though not in widespread use, at the time of the advent of the fork.
Production
The production of cutlery involves a number of stages. The raw materials are first melted in a furnace. The molten metal is then poured into moulds, where it cools and hardens. The cutlery is then removed from the moulds and polished to remove any imperfections. The final stage is the addition of the handle, which is usually made from plastic or wood.
Usage
Cutlery is used in many aspects of food preparation and consumption. It is used to cut, serve, and eat food. It is also used in a more symbolic capacity, for example in table setting customs.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cutlery
- Wikipedia's article - Cutlery
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski