Calling it a serviette
It's a table napkin according to the ever reliable "Nobless Oblige" edited by Nancy Mitford. Other useful hints: don't put the name of a house in inverted commas on the front of an envelope, remember to call Lieutenants "Mister", and most importantly saying "pardon" after you burp is very non-U. One should just remain silent.
( shavedchimp something something oranges something, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 9:36, 5 replies)

It is a serviette!
Do you really think Hitler's sister-in-law would know the difference? A napkin is linen, a serviette is paper. It's that simple.
(alboyalex, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 10:47, closed)

A serviette
is a towel, in French. Like, a proper towel that you use after you've had a bath or such like. How confusing.
(notjustahatrack peeling a sausage..., Sun 19 Oct 2008, 11:11, closed)

that would be what is known as
a false friend. Study any foreign language, and you'll come across thousands of examples - words which appear similar to English words, but mean something different
(bamboozled Can hear you getting fatter, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 14:59, closed)

The cloth you wipe your mouth when eating
is also called a "serviette".
( benryves Now I'm radioactive! That can't be good!, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 15:23, closed)

military pedanty...
Any officer in the army over the rank of Ensign would have been referred to as "Mister", by officers of the same or higher rank. Women and enobled civilians would also use this title.

I believe the same was true of Naval officers above the rank of Ensign, but my Naval knowledge is not so good. Of course, there was no Air Force at that time.

One should refer to NCOs by their full rank, never calling them "Sir". Privates are referred to as "Private Smith" or "Smith" - they are, in the eyes of ettiquette, as important as the person who delivered the coal - they obviously existed, but no-one of breeding would know anything about them.
(Chad, Mon 20 Oct 2008, 12:16, closed)