Definition of "luncheon"
luncheon
noun
countable and uncountable, plural luncheons
A formal meal served in the middle of the day.
Quotations
Now that she had rested and had fed from the luncheon tray Mrs. Broome had just removed, she had reverted to her normal gaiety. She looked cool in a grey tailored cotton dress with a terracotta scarf and shoes and her hair a black silk helmet.
1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 2, in The China Governess
Superintendent Chalmers: Well, Seymour, I made it — despite your directions.Principal Skinner: Ahhh, Superintendent Chalmers! Welcome! I hope you're prepared for an unforgettable luncheon.
1996, Writing staff, “22 Short Films About Springfield”, in The Simpsons, season 7, episode 21, spoken by Principal Skinner (Harry Shearer)
(obsolete) A portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal; an informal or light repast.
Quotations
At twilight in the summer there is never anybody to fear—man, woman, or cat—in the chambers and at that hour the mice come out. They do not eat parchment or foolscap or red tape, but they eat the luncheon crumbs.
1892, Walter Besant, chapter II, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […]
verb
third-person singular simple present luncheons, present participle luncheoning, simple past and past participle luncheoned
(transitive, rare) To serve luncheon to.
Quotations
Towns welcomed us in our hundreds; M.P.’s luncheoned us, manufacturers turned out their warehouses, decorated them and feasted us; private families tea’d us on their lawns, but we were so true to our art that we always returned to—“papers!”
1896 May 1, H. P. Robinson, “Digressions. V.—The Convention.”, in The British Journal of Photography, volume XLIII, number 1878, London: Henry Greenwood & Co., […], page 277, column 1
We won’t try to lie to you for, bro-ther! until that recent noon when Don Fernando Carlés, Number 1 at National City Bank in Buenos Aires, luncheoned us at this fantastic Jockey Club—and invitations to this fantastic block-square brownstone Mansion in Calle Florída are nothing to view lightly—we could take our sting-rays or leave ’em alone.
1951, Charles H[enry] Baker, Jr., The South American Gentleman’s Companion: Being an Exotic Cookery Book; Or, Up & Down the Andes with Knife, Fork & Spoon, New York, N.Y.: Crown Publishers, Inc., page 66