Brewer's: Epergne

(2 syl.). A large ornamental stand placed in the middle of a dining-table. It is generally said to be a French word, but the French call such an ornamental stand a surtout, strangely adopted by us to signify a frock-coat, which the French call a pardessus. The nearest French word is épargne, saving, as caisse d'épargne, a savings bank; verb épargner, to spare or save. (See English French.)

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