Illustration of credenza
- credenza 2
credenza
noun
cre·den·za
kri-ˈden-zə
1
2
: a sideboard, buffet, or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence
especially
: one without legs
Did you know?
In Italian credenza means “belief” or “confidence,” and confidence is just what a member of a noble or royal household needed before eating in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Being poisoned by one’s enemies was an ever-present danger. As a result, it was customary for members of royal or noble families to have a servant taste their food and drink after it left the kitchen and before it was served. The tasting was done at a dining room sideboard, and the name of the sideboard became credenza in Italian.
Cite this Entry
“Credenza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/credenza. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
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