Pronunciation: [sˈɔːsə] (IPA) 
The word "saucer" is spelled with a "c" at the end even though the pronunciation ends with an "r" sound. This is due to the historical development of the word from the Old French "saucier" which meant "to sauce" or "add sauce to". The spelling of "saucer" reflects its original French form, and the final "c" is silent in English. The IPA phonetic transcription of "saucer" is /ˈsɔːsər/ illustrating the silent "c" at the end.
A saucer is a shallow dish or plate typically used to hold or serve tea and other hot beverages. It is often used in conjunction with a teacup, placed underneath it to catch any spills or drips. Saucers are generally made from ceramic, porcelain, or fine china and are designed to complement the teacup in terms of size, shape, and pattern. They usually have a slightly concave shape with a raised rim to prevent liquids from overflowing. Saucers originated in Europe during the 17th century and gained popularity as tea-drinking became more widespread.
In addition to its functional purpose, the saucer also serves aesthetic and cultural roles. It is often seen as an essential part of a traditional tea set, bringing elegance and refinement to the tea-drinking experience. Saucers may feature decorative patterns or intricate designs that reflect the style of the era or the region from which they originate. Furthermore, in some cultures, the saucer symbolizes hospitality and politeness, as it allows guests to comfortably enjoy their tea without worrying about staining furniture or clothes.
Beyond tea service, the term "saucer" can also refer to a UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) that is reported to have a disc-like shape resembling a saucer. This use of the term emerged in the mid-20th century during the peak of UFO sightings and is derived from reports of unusual craft seen in the sky.
A little dish to hold sauce; a shallow piece of earthenware in which a cup is set.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "saucer" has an interesting etymology. It originally comes from the Old French word "saucière", which meant a small dish for holding sauce. The Old French term itself can be traced back to the Latin word "salsarium", meaning a container for salt. In medieval times, sauciers would use shallow dishes to hold sauces, and over time, these dishes began to be associated with the act of serving tea or coffee. Thus, the word "saucer" evolved to refer to the small, shallow dish placed under a teacup or coffee cup to catch any spills or drips.
