napkin

noun

1. a small piece of cloth or paper, usually square, for use in wiping the lips and fingers and to protect the clothes while eating.
2. sanitary napkin.
3. Chiefly British. a diaper.
4. Scot. and North England. a handkerchief.
5. Scot. a kerchief or neckerchief.

noun

1. Also called: table napkin a usually square piece of cloth or paper used while eating to protect the clothes, wipe the mouth, etc; serviette
2. rare a similar piece of cloth used for example as a handkerchief or headscarf
3. a more formal name for nappy 1
4. a less common term for sanitary towel

n.early 15c., from Old French nape “tablecloth, cloth cover, towel” (from Latin mappa; see map (n.)) + Middle English -kin “little.” No longer felt as a diminutive. The Old French diminutive was naperon (see apron).