What is the Latin word for napkin?

The usual Latin words for “napkin” are mantēle, mappa. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“napkin” in Latin

mantēlecloth to wipe hands or mouth, towel, napkin; tablecloth mappanapkin; starting signal; map

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

napkin

mantele or mantile (a linen cloth, which served sometimes as towel or table-cloth, as well as napkin; for, as the ancients had no forks, it was necessary to wipe the fingers during the meal, and afterward to wash the hands: the mantele was furnished by the host): mappa (the proper napkin, shorter than the mantele; this was brought by the guest: Attulerat mappam nemo, dum furta timentur; Mantile e mensa surripit Hermogenes Mart.): a twisted napkin, obtorta mappa.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for napkin?: The usual Latin words for “napkin” are mantēle, mappa. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.