Polite term for chopsticks, often used in restaurants or on paper wrappers. The kana spelling おてもと is especially common in this context.
Please use the chopsticks provided.
The disposable chopstick wrapper says 'otemoto'.
Please look at the handout in front of you.
Do you have it at hand?
privy purse; Imperial family private funds
Standard polite spelling for both senses; the kanji 手元 is widely recognized.
Variant using 許; less common but still seen.
Polite prefix お- + 手元 (てもと, 'at hand'). The 'chopsticks' sense likely developed from the idea of something placed conveniently at hand during a meal.