epergne

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an ornamental table centerpiece with a central bowl and branching dishes or holders for fruit, sweets, flowers, or candles

   The silver epergne held fruit in its central bowl and flowers in four smaller branches.

The origin is uncertain. The word may be connected with French épargne, 'saving or reserve,' perhaps because the branching centerpiece spared diners from passing dishes, but the phonetic and semantic development is not securely established.

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