hors d'oeuvre

The definition of an hors d'oeuvre is a small food item or snack served before a main meal or before a sit-down meal.

(noun)

A canape is an example of an hors d'oeuvre.

See hors d'oeuvre in Webster's New World College Dictionary

a small portion of a tasty food served as an appetizer before a meal or as at a cocktail party

Origin: Fr, lit., outside of work < hors, outside (< L foris) + de, of (see de-) + oeuvre, work (< L opera, works)

See hors d'oeuvre in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. hors d'oeuvres hors d'oeuvres (ôr dûrvzˈ) or hors d'oeuvre

An appetizer served before a meal.

Origin:

Origin: French hors d'œuvre

Origin: : hors, outside

Origin: + de, of

Origin: + œuvre, (the main) work

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