Dictionary

table-decker en · NOUN

Meanings

1. (historical) A servant in an aristocratic household who specifies where various dishes and decorations are to be placed at table.
   • At this time the table-decker came up. He took a napkin out of his budget, wiped the Cup, and was going to give the king some water to drink. 1787, The New Lady's Magazine:
   • In 1749, he complimented Mr. Garrick in an Ode on his marriage with Madam Violetti ; and about the same period he united himself in the same state with Miss Hamilton, daughter of Mr. Hamilton, table-decker to the princesses. 1804, The works of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland:
   • George III from 1761 included a table-decker in his personal household ; another was allocated to the ten maids-of-honour and bedchamber women, and a third to his numerous chaplains. 1965, Country Life - Volume 137, page 1413:

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