helping
n. countablen. a single portion of food that you put on your plate at a meal. You might ask for a second one if you are still hungry.
n. a single portion of food served to one person at a meal. Often used in the context of additional portions, such as a 'second helping'.
She gave herself a large helping of mashed potatoes.
The children were so hungry after swimming that they each asked for a second helping of the pasta.
The host insisted that everyone take a generous helping of the traditional dessert, despite the fact that the main course had already been quite substantial.
From Middle English helping, helpinge, helpynge, equivalent to help + -ing.
From Middle English helpinge, helpynge, helpinde, helponde, helpand, from Old English helpende, present participle of Old English helpan (“to help”), equivalent to help + -ing. Cognate with Dutch helpend, German helfend, Swedish hjälpande.
Commonly used with adjectives like 'large', 'generous', or 'second'.