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Dessert

a service of pastry, fruits, or sweetmeats, at the close of a feast or entertainment; pastry, fruits, etc, forming the last course at dinner. 'An 't please your honor, quoth the peasant, This same dessert is not so pleasant.' (Pope) dessert spoon, a spoon used in eating dessert; a spoon intermediate in size between a teaspoon and a tablespoon. Dessert-spoonful, dessert-spoonfuls, as much as a dessert spoon will hold, usually reckoned at about two and a half fluid drams.

Origin: f, fr. Desservir to remove from table, to clear the table; pref. Des- (L. Dis-) _ servir to serve, to serve at table. See serve.