salt-spoon
Definition
- Noun:
- A small spoon, typically made of silver or other metal, used for serving or dispensing salt from a salt cellar or salt dish at the table.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- She placed a tiny salt-spoon beside the salt cellar for guests to use. (A small spoon intended for salt.)
- The antique salt-spoon was beautifully engraved with floral patterns. (A decorative spoon for salt.)
- He used the salt-spoon to sprinkle a precise amount of salt over his meal. (A utensil for measuring and applying salt.)
Advanced Usage
- "to take with a salt-spoon": a figurative expression meaning to handle something delicately or with precise measurement, though rare.
- The chef took the seasoning with a salt-spoon, ensuring no dish was over-salted. (Used literally to emphasize careful control.)
Variants and Related Words
- Saltcellar (n): a small container for salt, often used with a salt-spoon.
- The saltcellar and its matching salt-spoon were part of the silverware set. (A vessel for salt.)
- Salt spoon (n): an alternative spelling (often written as two words).
- He picked up the salt spoon to add salt to his soup. (Same meaning as salt-spoon.)
Synonyms
- Salt shovel: a small shovel-shaped utensil for serving salt (less common).
- Salt scoop: a small scoop used for salt, often in bulk containers.
Related Idioms
Notes on Usage
- The term "salt-spoon" is somewhat archaic or formal; in modern dining, salt is often dispensed from a shaker without a separate spoon. It is most commonly encountered in historical contexts, antique descriptions, or formal table settings.