SALVER  , a

flat tray of silver or other metal used for carrying or serving glasses, cups, dishes, &c., at table or for the presenting of a letter or card by a servant . In a royal or noble household the fear of poisoning led to the custom of tasting the food or drink before it was served to the master and his guests; this was known as the " assay " of meat and drink, and in Spanish was called salva (salvar, to preserve from risk, Lat. salvage, to save) . The term salva was also applied to the dish or tray on which the food or drink was presented after the tasting process . There seems no doubt that this Spanish word is the source of the English " salver "; a parallel is found in the origin of the term " credence-table," which is from the Ital. credenza, Lat. credere, to believe, trust (see CREDENCE AND CREDENCE-TABLE) .