Large, flat dishes used for serving food, or anything broad and flat.
From Old French 'plat' meaning flat, which comes from Old Norse 'flatr'. The word evolved to describe the flat serving dishes themselves, and the plural form adds the -s suffix.
Platters became especially important in medieval European dining when food was meant to be shared from a central dish rather than plated individually—a completely different way of eating than today's personal plates!
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