Lazy Susan

Lazy Susan

A Lazy Susan is a rotating tray placed on top of a table to aid in moving food on a large table or counter tops. They come in many sizes and shapes, but are usually circular. They may be made of glass, wood, steel, plastic, or various other hard substances such as stone etc.

A corner cabinet on which the shelves are mounted on a vertical axle such that items may be retrieved by pushing on the shelves to turn them may also be called a lazy Susan. This type is usually found in kitchens. Closed, this type of lazy Susan appears to be two normal cabinets at right angles to each other. When pushed on, the cabinet "doors" reveal the shelves, which are circular except for the ninety degree cutout where the doors are mounted.

The term "Lazy Susan" made its first written appearance in a Vanity Fair advertisement for a "Revolving Server or Lazy Susan" in 1917. Prior to that time they were called dumbwaiters, a term also applied to a type of small elevator for transporting food.

Origin of Name

The name, 'Lazy Susan' is believed to have come from an Italian or French cheesemaker.

References

* [http://www.word-detective.com/090699.html Word-detective.com "Whirling Domestics"]
* [http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0603/dictionary_men061703.asp Jewishworldreview.com "How did "lazy Susan" come to be used for the rotating tray?"]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Lazy Susan — ☆ Lazy Susan n. a rotating tray placed at the center of a dining table, from which one can help oneself to food …   English World dictionary

  • lazy Susan — 1. a revolving tray for foods, condiments, etc., placed usually at the center of a dining table. 2. any similar structure, as a shelf or tabletop, designed to revolve so that whatever it holds can be seen or reached easily. Also, lazy susan, Lazy …   Universalium

  • lazy Susan — noun a revolving tray placed on a dining table • Syn: ↑turntable • Hypernyms: ↑tray * * * ˌlazy ˈSusan 7 [lazy Susan] noun a round plate or ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • lazy Susan — noun Date: 1917 a revolving tray used for serving food, condiments, or relishes …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • lazy Susan — noun A carousel for condiments, or for serving other foods, used to keep them within easy reach. Also, rotating shelves often installed in a corner kitchen cabinet to help utilize unused or inaccessible space …   Wiktionary

  • lazy Susan — noun a revolving stand or tray on a table, used especially for holding condiments …   English new terms dictionary

  • lazy Susan — la′zy Su′san (or su′san) or La′zy Su′san n. 1) a revolving tray for foods, condiments, etc., placed usu. at the center of a dining table 2) cvb any similar structure, as a shelf or tabletop, designed to revolve so that whatever it holds can be… …   From formal English to slang

  • lazy Susan — /leɪzi ˈsuzən/ (say layzee soohzuhn) noun 1. a revolving tray for serving condiments or food. 2. a corner cupboard in a kitchen, etc., containing several shelves which revolve for easy access to stored goods. {US (1930s) …  

  • lazy — (adj.) 1540s, laysy, of unknown origin. Replaced native slack, slothful, and idle as the main word expressing the notion of averse to work. In 19c. thought to be from LAY (Cf. lay) (v.) as tipsy from tip. Skeat is responsible for the prevailing… …   Etymology dictionary

  • lazySusan — lazy Susan n. A revolving tray for condiments or food. * * * …   Universalium

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