■ noun
1》 a piece of furniture with a flat or sloped surface at which one can read, write, or do other work.
2》 a counter in a hotel, bank, airport, etc.
3》 a specified section of a news organization: the sports ~.
4》 Music a position in an orchestra at which two players share a music stand.
Origin
ME: from med. L. desca , prob. based on Provençal desca 'basket' or Ital. desco 'table, butcher's block', both based on L. discus (see discus ).