teapoy

English

Alternative forms

• tepoy

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtiː.pɔɪ/

Etymology

Borrowed from Hindi तिपाई / Urdu تپائی (tipāi, “teapoy”), which derives from a merger of Sanskrit त्रिपाद (tripāda, “tripod”) and Classical Persian سه پای (sih-pāy, “tripod”). Corresponding ultimately to Proto-Indo-European *tréyes (“three”) +‎ *pṓds (“foot”). Spelling influenced by pseudoetymological association with tea.  

Noun

teapoy (plural teapoys)

1. Originally, a three-legged decorative stand or table; sometimes also having a tea chest for holding a tea service. [from 1820s]
   • 2019, Nancy E. Davis, The Chinese Lady: Afong Moy in Early America:

     The teapoy, derived from the Hindi/Persian phrase denoting a three-footed table, supported a tea set or tea-related objects. Not all teapoys were tripod-like tables or sold singly. The Carneses imported lacquer teapoys in sets. These sets could be easily stacked in a corner of the drawing room and brought out at teatime to hold a teacup, a set, or a caddy. The Carneses purchased lacquered teapoys sets for four dollars in China and probably sold them for twice that amount in America.

Descendants

• → Bengali: টিপাই (ṭipai)

See also

• charpoy