buffet

Where does the word "buffet" come from? It comes from French buffet, and was adopted directly into English (1700s).

Buffet’s story begins in French: buffet meant “a sideboard, a stool.” A stool, sideboard, or bench used to display food. It reached English by 1700s as buffet. Settled as the word for a meal set out for guests to serve themselves. Today, buffet means a meal at which guests serve themselves from dishes laid out on a table.

1. Stage 1 · French · medieval buffet "a sideboard, a stool", a stool, sideboard, or bench used to display food.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1700s buffet "a meal laid out for guests to serve themselves", settled as the word for a meal set out for guests to serve themselves.