Useless fact
What is the cardboard sleeve on a coffee cup called?
The cardboard sleeve placed around a hot paper coffee cup to protect your hands is called a zarf.
The word "zarf" originates from the Arabic word for a container or envelope. Historically, a zarf was an ornamental metal, wood, or tortoiseshell holder designed to cradle handleless hot coffee cups, preventing drinkers from burning their fingers. In 1991, Jay Sorensen invented and patented the modern cardboard coffee sleeve under the name "Java Jacket" to solve the same problem. Today, lexicographers and designers use "zarf" as the generic term for these ubiquitous cardboard sleeves found at coffee shops worldwide. The cardboard zarf has become an iconic piece of modern product packaging, balancing thermal insulation with material efficiency.
Why this is true — The term is defined in major English dictionaries as a holder for a hot coffee cup.
Sources
- zarf Dictionary.com