A Lazy Susan is a rotating tray placed on top of a table to aid in moving food on a large table or counter tops. They come in many sizes and shapes, but are usually circular. They may be made of glass, wood, steel, plastic, or various other hard substances such as stone etc.

A corner cabinet on which the shelves are mounted on a vertical axle such that items may be retrieved by pushing on the shelves to turn them may also be called a lazy Susan. This type is usually found in kitchens. Closed, this type of lazy Susan appears to be two normal cabinets at right angles to each other. When pushed on, the cabinet "doors" reveal the shelves, which are circular except for the ninety degree cutout where the doors are mounted.

The term "Lazy Susan" made its first written appearance in a Vanity Fair advertisement for a "Revolving Server or Lazy Susan" in 1917. Prior to that time they were called dumbwaiters, a term also applied to a type of small elevator for transporting food.

Origin of Name

The name, 'Lazy Susan' is believed to have come from an Italian or French cheesemaker.

References

• Word-detective.com "Whirling Domestics"
• Jewishworldreview.com "How did lazy Susan come to be used for the rotating tray?"