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luncheon

noun
/ˈlʌn(t)ʃən/

Etymology

From earlier lunching, of uncertain origin. Possibly derived from an earlier *lumpchin, *lumpchen, a diminutive of lump (“chunk, parcel of food, lunch”), thus related to lunch, q.v. It is unclear which came first: whether lunch is a shortening of luncheon, or whether luncheon is an augmentation of lunch. Possibly influenced by nuncheon (“light snack taken in the afternoon”). The "sausage" sense is probably a shortening of luncheon sausage or luncheon meat.

Definitions

  1. A formal meal served in the middle of the day.

    • Superintendent Chalmers: Well, Seymour, I made it — despite your directions. Principal Skinner: Ahhh, Superintendent Chalmers! Welcome! I hope you're prepared for an unforgettable luncheon.
    • Most people thought the food at the luncheon was mediocre.

  2. A large, cheap, processed sausage served in thin slices.

    • Filled Roll (x2) 1x luncheon, tomato, lettuce, and mayonnaise / 1x cheese and onion
    • Ian bought the luncheon since it was on special.

  3. Any midday meal

    Any midday meal; lunch.

    • Have you had luncheon?
  4. ›+ 4 more definitions

    1. A lump of food.

    2. A portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal

      A portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal; an informal or light repast.

      • At twilight in the summer there is never anybody to fear—man, woman, or cat—in the chambers and at that hour the mice come out. They do not eat parchment or foolscap or red tape, but they eat the luncheon crumbs.

    3. To eat luncheon.

      • In the meantime, while ladies are luncheoning on chicken pie, or coursing in whirling britskas, performing all the singular ceremonies of a London morning in the heart of the season[…]

    4. To serve luncheon to.

      • This gentleman was presented by Colonel C. E. S. Wood, and was entertained here—wined, dined, tead, breakfasted, coffeed and luncheoned—and we bought his pictures.
      • […] entertained him at the Bohemian Club; Edward D. Kneass, Jr., ’18, extended to him the greeting of the San Francisco Press Club; and Frank J. Taylor, ’18, luncheoned him at the Honolulu Club.

The neighborhood

Derived

bruncheon, luncheon bar, luncheon cart, luncheoner, luncheonette, luncheonless, luncheon meat, luncheon plate, luncheon sausage, luncheon truncheon, luncheon voucher, luncheonware, preluncheon

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for luncheon. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA