Hors d oeuvre

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Hors d'oeuvres (or alternatively appetiser, appetizer or starter) refer to the food served before or outside of (French: hors) the main dishes of a meal (the ?uvre). The purpose of the hors d'oeuvres is to whet the appetite; if there is a long waiting period between when the guests arrive and when the meal is served (for example, during a cocktail hour), these might also serve the purpose of sustaining guests during the long wait.

Hors d'oeuvres may be served at the table, i.e. as a part of the sit-down meal, or they may be served before sitting at the table.