English

Alternative forms

• hors-d'oeuvre

Noun

hors d'oeuvre ‎(plural hors d'oeuvres)

1. A small, light, and usually savory first course in a meal.
2. (by extension) Anything of secondary concern; not the primary thing.
3. (dated, rare) Something unusual or extraordinary.

Translations

Quotations

• 1920, G. K. Chesterton, The New Jerusalem, Ch. XIII

  It seems quaintest of all when, at some Jewish luncheon parties, a tray of hats is actually handed round, and each guest helps himself to a hat as a sort of hors d'oeuvre.

• 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald, “chapter III”, in The Great Gatsby, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner's Sons, OCLC 884653065:

  On buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors-d’oeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold.

See also

• canapé

French

Etymology

Literally, "apart from the work", in other words, "apart from the main meal"

Noun

hors d'oeuvre m ‎(plural hors d'oeuvre)

1. Nonstandard spelling of hors d'œuvre.

Usage notes

• The œ ligature is often replaced in contemporary French with oe (the œ character does not appear on AZERTY keyboards), but this is nonstandard.