‖ déjeuner, † déjeuné
(deʒœne)
[mod.F. déjeuner, formerly often déjeuné (cf. couchee), pres. inf. = to breakfast, used subst. = breaking fast, breakfast.]
a. The morning meal; breakfast.
In France, it often corresponds in time more to the English luncheon, for which déjeuner is consequently used as a synonym. déjeuner à la fourchette [lit. breakfast with the fork], a late déjeuner of a substantial character, with meat, wine, etc.; a luncheon.
| 1787 Maty tr. Riesbeck's Trav. Germ. xxxi. II. 47 Every body now gives dinès, soupès, and dejunès. 1818 Moore Fudge Fam. Paris i. 8 This exceeding long letter You owe to a déjeuner à la fourchette. 1826 J. R. Best Four Years in France 289 We took our déjuné at which we had delicious grapes and execrable wine. 1849 Thackeray Pendennis vii, At her déjeuner-dansant after the Bohemian Ball. 1864 Daily Tel. 31 May, At the tables on which that description of banquet usually called a déjeûner is spread. |
b. A breakfast service (see quot. 1875).
| 1774 Descr. of Villa of H. Walpole 105 A dejuné [ed. 1784, p. 74: dejeuné] of Seve china. 1869 Lady C. Schreiber Jrnl. (1911) I. 31 A very fine Chelsea Déjeuner which he sold for {pstlg}90. 1875 E. Meteyard Wedgwood Handbk. 395 A déjeuner consists of a tray, one or more cups and saucers, occasionally a teapot, a cream jug, and a slop basin. |
c. attrib.
| 1851 Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib. iii. 726/1 Communion and déjeûne services. Ibid. 748/2 Papier maché ‘standish’, ‘déjeûner tray’, and bottle-stand. 1865 ‘Ouida’ Strathmore xii, In the breakfast-room every déjeûner delicacy was waiting. 1870 Lady C. Schreiber Jrnl. (1911) I. 65 A Sèvres déjeuner service. 1875 J. Grant One of Six Hundr. x, A déjeûner service of splendid Wedgwood ware. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 5 July 1/3 Messrs. Christie sold yesterday the déjeuner-service of Napoleon I. |