luncheon
/ˈlʌn.tʃən/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.31 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A large, cheap, processed sausage served in thin slices.
New Zealand usage; Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Most people thought the food at the luncheon was mediocre."
- "Now that she had rested and had fed from the luncheon tray Mrs. Broome had just removed, she had reverted to her normal gaiety. She looked cool in a grey tailored cotton dress with a terracotta scarf and shoes and her hair a black silk helmet."
- "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."
- "Ian bought the luncheon since it was on special."
- "Filled Roll (x2) 1x luncheon, tomato, lettuce, and mayonnaise / 1x cheese and onion"
- ""Have you had luncheon?""
Etymology
Of uncertain origin. Possibly derived from an earlier *lumpchin, *lumpchen, a diminutive of lump (“chunk, parcel of food, lunch”), thus related to lunch. It is unclear which came first: whether lunch is a shortening of luncheon, or whether luncheon is an augmentation of lunch. Possibly also a dissimilatory form of or influenced by nuncheon (“light snack taken in the afternoon”). Noun sense 2 (“sausage”) is likely a ellipsis of luncheon sausage or luncheon meat.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈlʌn.tʃən/
- British English: /ˈlʌn.tʃən/
Usage
Inflected Forms
luncheons (plural)
lunching (alternative, obsolete)
lunchen (alternative, obsolete)
slunchin (alternative, obsolete)
lunshin (alternative, obsolete)
lunchion (alternative, obsolete)
lunchin (alternative, obsolete)
luncheons (present, singular)
luncheoning (participle, present)
luncheoned (participle, past)
luncheoned (past)