My parents, who were brought up in South Africa, called them “serviettes”. Many people in Britain call them “napkins”.

In a 1903 edition of “Mrs Beeton’s Cookery Book”, these cloths for diners to use at table are called “serviettes”. It was advised that these should be folded to make decorative table ornaments.

In the instructions for making a mitre shape, Mrs Beeton wrote “Fold the napkin …”

So which is it? Napkin? or Serviette?