saucer

A saucer is a small, shallow, circular dish designed to accompany a cup or glass in a place setting. It serves as a resting surface for the cup and to catch spills or drips, helping to protect furniture and table linens. Saucers are typically made of ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal, or other materials, and are manufactured to match the corresponding cup sets. A standard teacup saucer is commonly about 12 to 15 centimeters in diameter, though sizes vary by culture and style.

Originating in Europe with the adoption of cup-and-saucer sets, saucers became a standard component of Western tableware by the 18th and 19th centuries. They may be plain or decorated, and are used with tea or coffee service, hot chocolate, and other beverages. In some cultures, larger or more decorative saucers are employed as small plates for biscuits or pastries.

In popular culture, the term flying saucer refers to an alleged disc-shaped flying object. The phrase entered broad usage after a 1947 sighting by pilot Kenneth Arnold, who described the objects as saucer-like. The term became widely adopted in media and UFO folklore, though no conclusive evidence has established the existence of such craft.

More rarely, “saucer” is used in various specialized contexts to describe any shallow, dish-like object or shape. It also appears in the names of ornamental plants and other goods to evoke a disc-like form.