luncheon

/ˈlʌn(t)ʃən/

Etymology

From earlier lunching, of uncertain origin. Possibly derived from an earlier *lumpchin, *lumpchen, a diminutive of lump (“chunk, parcel of food, lunch”), thus related to lunch, q.v. It is unclear which came first: whether lunch is a shortening of luncheon, or whether luncheon is an augmentation of lunch. Possibly influenced by nuncheon (“light snack taken in the afternoon”). The "sausage" sense is probably a shortening of luncheon sausage or luncheon meat.

luncheon means A formal meal served in the middle of the day. Lexicurio rates it Distinctive — a strength score of 68 out of 100.

noun

A formal meal served in the middle of the day.“Now that she had rested and had fed from the luncheon tray Mrs. Broome had just removed, she had reverted to her normal gaiety. She looked cool in a grey tailored cotton dress with a terracotta scarf and shoes and her hair a black silk helmet.”
A large, cheap, processed sausage served in thin slices.“Filled Roll (x2) 1x luncheon, tomato, lettuce, and mayonnaise / 1x cheese and onion”
Any midday meal; lunch.“Have you had luncheon?”
A lump of food.
A portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal; an informal or light repast.“At twilight in the summer there is never anybody to fear—man, woman, or cat—in the chambers and at that hour the mice come out. They do not eat parchment or foolscap or red tape, but they eat the luncheon crumbs.”

verb

To eat luncheon.“In the meantime, while ladies are luncheoning on chicken pie, or coursing in whirling britskas, performing all the singular ceremonies of a London morning in the heart of the season[…]”
To serve luncheon to.“Towns welcomed us in our hundreds; M.P.’s luncheoned us, manufacturers turned out their warehouses, decorated them and feasted us; private families tea’d us on their lawns, but we were so true to our art that we always returned to—“papers!””