Table

Table, tā′bl, n. a smooth, flat slab or board, with legs, used as an article of furniture: supply of food, entertainment: the company at a table: the board or table on which a game is played, as billiards, backgammon, draughts: a surface on which something is written or engraved: that which is cut or written on a flat surface: a flat gravestone supported on pillars: an inscription: a condensed statement: syllabus or index; (B.) a writing tablet.—adj. of or pertaining to a table, or the food partaken from the table.—v.t. to make into a table or catalogue: to lay (money) on the table: to pay down: to lay on the table—i.e. to postpone consideration of.—ns. Tā′ble-beer, light beer for common use; Tā′ble-book, a book of tablets, on which anything is written without ink: a note-book: a book of tables, as of weights, measures, &c.; Tā′ble-cloth, a cloth usually of linen, for covering a table, esp. at meals; Tā′ble-cov′er, a cloth for covering a table, esp. at other than meal-times; Table-d'hôte (ta′bl-dōt), a meal for several persons at the same hour and at fixed prices; Tā′bleful, as many as a table will hold; Tā′bleland, an extensive region of elevated land with a plain-like or undulating surface: a plateau; Tā′ble-leaf, a board at the side of a table which can be put up or down to vary the size of the table; Tā′ble-lin′en, linen table-cloths, napkins, &c.; Tā′ble-mon′ey, an allowance granted to general officers in the army, and flag-officers in the navy, to enable them to fulfil the duties of hospitality within their respective commands; Tā′ble-rap′ping, production of raps on tables by alleged spiritual agency.—n.pl. Tā′bles, the game of backgammon.—ns. Tā′ble-spoon, one of the largest spoons used at table; Tā′ble-spoon′ful, as much as will fill a table-spoon; Tā′ble-talk, familiar conversation, as that round a table, during and after meals; Tā′ble-turn′ing, movements of tables or other objects, attributed by spiritualists to the agency of spirits—by rational persons to involuntary muscular action—similarly Tā′ble-lift′ing, Tā′ble-rap′ping; Tā′ble-ware, dishes, spoons, knives, forks, &c. for table use.—adv. Tā′blewise, like a table—of the communion-table, with the ends east and west—opp. to Altar-wise.—ns. Tā′ble-work, the setting of type for tables, columns of figures, &c.; Tā′bling, the act of tabling or forming into tables: (carp.) a rude dove-tailing: (naut.) a broad hem on the skirts of sails.—The Lord's Table, the table at which the Lord's Supper is partaken, or on which the elements are laid: the Lord's Supper.—Fence the tables (see Fence); Lay on the table, to lay aside any proposed measure indefinitely, or for future discussion; Lie on the table, to be laid upon the table; Turn the tables, to bring about a complete reversal of circumstances. [O. Fr. table—L. tabula, a board.]