drawing the cloth

Verb

draw the cloth (third-person singular simple present draws the cloth, present participle drawing the cloth, simple past drew the cloth, past participle drawn the cloth)

1. (archaic) To clear the table after a meal.
   • The silence of our meal was alone broken by the dull clattering of knives and forks, and the tinkling of the bell to summon the brisk waiter to bring wine and draw the cloth.1855, Susanna Moodie, Geoffrey Moncton, page 327

   Synonyms:

   clear the table, unset the table