enotes one who cuts up the meat at table. The word is formed from the Latin *carpor*, which signifies the same. The Romans also called him *carpus, scissor*, and *structor*. In the great families at Rome the carver was an officer of some consequence; and there were masters to teach them the art regularly, by means of figures of animals cut in wood. The Greeks had also their carvers, or distributors. In primitive times the master of the feast carved for all his guests. Thus in Homer, when Agamemnon's ambassadors were entertained at Achilles's table, the hero himself carved the meat. In later times the same office was on solemn occasions performed at Sparta by some of the chief men. Some persons would derive the custom of distributing to every guest his portion from those early ages when the Greeks first learned the use of corn. The new diet was so great a delicacy that, to prevent the guests from quarrelling, it was found necessary to make a fair distribution.