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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Everyday Life • Utensil

Spoon

A spoon is a utensil with a small shallow bowl or head attached to a handle.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

A spoon is a utensil with a small shallow bowl attached to a handle, used mainly for eating, serving, measuring, and stirring food. It has been a common dining tool since prehistoric times.

What it is

A spoon is a hand-held tool defined by its shallow bowl-shaped end and a handle. It is a type of cutlery, often grouped with forks as flatware, and comes in many specialized forms like serving spoons and measuring spoons.

Why it matters

Spoons are essential for transferring food to the mouth, especially liquids and soft foods such as soup, cereal, and yogurt. They are also used in cooking for stirring and mixing, making them a kitchen staple in Canadian households.

Key details

Common materials include stainless steel, silver, wood, porcelain, and plastic. Archaeologists note spoons have been used since Paleolithic times. In Canada, the phrase “A Dish with One Spoon” is an Indigenous treaty concept from the Great Lakes region.

In short

  • Spoons have a shallow bowl and handle, used for eating and cooking.
  • They are made from metal, wood, porcelain, or plastic.
  • Spoons date back to Paleolithic times.
  • In Canada, “A Dish with One Spoon” is a treaty concept.
Canadian angle

Spoons are a standard part of Canadian dining culture and household kitchenware. Canadian readers may also encounter the phrase “A Dish with One Spoon,” an Indigenous treaty concept from the Great Lakes and northeastern North America.[16]

Quick questions

What is a spoon made of?
Common materials include metal, wood, porcelain, and plastic.
Is a spoon cutlery?
Yes, spoons are a type of cutlery, often grouped with forks as flatware.
How old are spoons?
Spoons have been used since Paleolithic times, according to archaeological sources.

Sources

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon
    Supports: Definition, uses, materials, and general description of the utensil.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/topic/spoon-utensil
    Supports: Definition, uses, and classification as flatware.
  3. Merriam-Websterhttps://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spoon
    Supports: Dictionary definition and extended meanings.
  4. Simple English Wikipediahttps://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon
    Supports: Historical note that spoons have been used since Paleolithic times.
  5. California Academy of Scienceshttps://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/anthropology/utensil/spoons.htm
    Supports: Historical note on spoons as eating utensils since Paleolithic times.
  6. The Canadian Encyclopediahttps://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/a-dish-with-one-spoon
    Supports: Canadian Indigenous phrase “A Dish with One Spoon” and its meaning.