luncheon

Related to lunch, q.v. It is unclear which came first. Possibly influenced by nuncheon (“light snack taken in the afternoon”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈlʌntʃ.ən/, /ˈlʌnʃ.ən/
• Hyphenation: lun‧che‧on

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ʌntʃən

luncheon (plural luncheons)

1. A formal meal served in the middle of the day.
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 2, in The China Governess‎:

     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.

2. (obsolete) Any midday meal; lunch.
   • 1931, Mildred Wirt (as Carolyn Keene), The Mystery at Lilac Inn (page 4)

     "Have you had luncheon?"

3. (obsolete) A lump of food.
4. (obsolete) A portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal; an informal or light repast.
   • 1892, Walter Besant, chapter II, in The Ivory Gate: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], OCLC 16832619:

     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.

• luncheonette

• nuncheon

luncheon (third-person singular simple present luncheons, present participle luncheoning, simple past and past participle luncheoned)

1. (intransitive, dated) To eat luncheon.
   • Benjamin Disraeli

     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 […]

• lunch
• tiffin
• dejeuner

- lunch on Wikipedia.Wikipedia