What is the literal meaning of the Swedish word "smörgåsbord"?

In Swedish "smörgåsbord" refers to a buffet-style meal. It is usually served with a variety of hot and cold dishes and is typically a celebratory meal. In English the word refers loosely to any buffet with a variety of dishes and is not necessarily used to reference traditional Swedish cuisine.

The same concept is known throughout the cuisines of Northern Europe. In Norway, Denmark and the Faroe Islands it is referred to as “the cold table”; in Iceland it is called the "loaded table" and in Germany and the Netherlands it is known as a “cold buffet"). Elsewhere in Europe it is common to find a term meaning "Swedish table," and in Japan it is referred to as. "Viking."

The Swedish word “smörgåsbord” consists of the compound word “smörgås” used to describe an open-faced sandwich and “bord” which means "table”. The compound word “smörgås” consists of the words “smör” which means "butter" and “gås” which means "goose." So, putting these pieces together “smorgasbord” literally means “butter-goose-table.”

How did “smörgås” come to to be used for a sandwich? “Smör” in Swedish is like “smear” in English and can be used as a verb meaning “spread.” “Gås” (“goose”) was used to refer to the small pieces of butter that formed and floated to the surface of cream while it was churned; the small butter pieces were the right size to be placed and flattened out on bread, so “smörgås” came to refer to "buttered bread".