credenza

noun

cre·​den·​za kri-ˈden-zə 

1

: credence sense 3

2

: a sideboard, buffet, or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence

especially : one without legs

Illustration of credenza

• credenza 2

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.

Examples of credenza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If your hallways are somehow always filled with shoes, consider this shoe cabinet that looks like a credenza but actually has storage for 16 pairs. —Shea Simmons, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2024

Spruce up your fireplace mantel, dining room table, credenza, and doorways with the vibrant garland that features LED lights for an inviting nighttime ambiance. —Ali Faccenda, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2024

Opposite the floor-to-ceiling fireplace is a dining room featuring a wine display and a floating credenza, while the polished kitchen is outfitted with a wall of glass-front storage, an eat-in island, and top-tier appliances. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2024

But the most eye-catching elements are a vintage black-and-white relief floor lamp, a festive gallery wall, and a custom TV credenza with circular embellishments. —Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 6 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, belief, confidence, from Medieval Latin credentia

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1