Leftovers

Leftovers

Noun (plural) · /ˈleft.əʊ.vərz/

Definition

Food remaining after a meal has been eaten, typically stored and eaten at a later time; more generally, any items remaining after others have been used, taken, or consumed.

Origin

From left over — the participial phrase meaning remaining after use or consumption — used as a noun from the mid-19th century. Left is from Old English lyft (weak, worthless) in the sense of remaining or not taken; over in the sense of remaining. The food sense became standard in the early 20th century.