luncheon

[luhn-chuh n] /ˈlʌn tʃən/
noun
1.
lunch, especially a formal lunch held in connection with a meeting or other special occasion:
the alumni luncheon.
Origin
1570-80; dissimilated variant of nuncheon (now dial.), Middle English none(s)chench noon drink, equivalent to none noon + schench, Old English scenc a drink, cup, akin to Old English scencan to pour out, give drink, cognate with Dutch, German schenken
Related forms
luncheonless, adjective
Examples from the web for luncheon
  • If luncheon meats are to be your rebuttal for scientifically sound arguments, your point of view is dead meat.
  • The attendees attended the keynote speeches, and the banquet speeches, and the luncheon speeches.
  • The luncheon dress might be called fashion's version of a watercress and endive salad.
  • The convocation was followed by a special luncheon attended by professors and administrators aplenty.
  • And one may not ask for an invitation to a luncheon or a dinner for a stranger.
  • The ceremony will take place in the family chapel, followed by a luncheon.
  • Her characters, with their dry wit and sense of irony, are the sort of people you'd want to sit next to at a bad work luncheon.
  • However, in this new format, only the top five nominees will be announced prior to the luncheon.
  • Winners in each of three categories were announced at the luncheon.
British Dictionary definitions for luncheon

luncheon

/ˈlʌntʃən/
noun
1.
a lunch, esp a formal one
Word Origin
C16: probably variant of nuncheon, from Middle English noneschench, from nonenoon + schench drink
Word Origin and History for luncheon
n.

"light repast between mealtimes," 1650s (lunching; spelling luncheon by 1706); earlier "thick piece, hunk," 1570s (luncheon), of uncertain origin. Perhaps northern English dialectal lunch "hunk of bread or cheese" (1580s; probably from Spanish lonja "a slice," literally "loin"), blended with or influenced by nuncheon (Middle English nonechenche, mid-14c.) "light mid-day meal," from none "noon" (see noon) + schench "drink," from Old English scenc, from scencan "pour out."

Despite the form lunching in the 1650s source OED discounts that it possibly could be from lunch (v.), which is much later. It suggests perhaps an analogy with truncheon, etc. Especially in reference to an early afternoon meal eaten by those who have a noontime dinner.