So what do you call those tools that you use to prepare and put food in your mouth? I am speaking specifically of the fork, knife and spoon. Cutlery, flatware, utensils, tableware, silverware or what? Let’s look at some definitions:
Cutlery – 1. cutting instruments collectively, especially knives for cutting food. 2. utensils, as knives, forks, and spoons, used at the table for serving and eating food.
Utensils – 1. any of the instruments or vessels commonly used in a kitchen. 2.
any instrument, vessel, or tool serving a useful purpose.
Flatware – 1. utensils, as knives, forks, and spoons, used at the table for serving and eating food. 2. dishes or containers for the table that are more or less flat, as plates and saucers.
Tableware – the dishes, utensils, etc., used at the table.
Silverware – articles, especially eating and serving utensils, made of silver, silver-plated metals, stainless steel, etc.
After reading these definitions my vote is for cutlery as the others are either too vague or too inclusive. But here’s the rub, the Internet on the whole believes that cutlery is all about knives. If you look at the image with this article, you can probably understand why. And this isn’t a regional issue from what I can tell, we all have the same issue. It seems everyone only sees the word “cut” in cutlery.
