Definition
A self-service dining facility, typically in schools or institutions, where patrons select food items from a counter or serving line and pay before eating in a common dining area. American school cafeterias are iconic settings where social hierarchies and childhood memories are formed.
Example Usage
The school cafeteria served the same mystery meat on Tuesdays every week.
Origin
From Spanish 'cafetería,' combining 'café' (coffee) and the suffix '-tería' (place where something is sold), first popularized in Spain and later adopted in the United States.
Fun Fact
School cafeteria food has become a common target of nostalgic humor and criticism; dishes like 'mystery meat' and 'slop' have become legendary in American pop culture.
Related Terms
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