From Middle English nappen, from Old English hnappian (“to doze, slumber, sleep”), from Proto-West Germanic *hnappōn (“to nap”). Cognate with Old High German hnaffezan, hnaffezzan (whence Middle High German nafzen (“to slumber”) whence German dialectal napfezen, nafzen (“to nod, slumber, nap”)).
Meanings
To have a nap; to sleep for a short period of time, especially during the day.
(figuratively) To be off one's guard.
The regulators were caught napping by the financial collapse.
I took thee napping, unprepared. 1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC:
ru вздремну́ть (to have a nap) · es echarse (to have a nap) · uk кима́рити (to have a nap) · ru кема́рить (to have a nap) · gl durmiñar (to have a nap) · ar أَخَذَ قَيْلُولَة (to have a nap) · pt cochilar (to have a nap) · et suigatama (to have a nap) · ca fer la sesta (to have a nap) · fr faire la sieste (to have a nap) · gl cochar (to have a nap) · es echarse la siesta (to have a nap) · ca fer la midgiada (to have a nap) · gl topenear (to have a nap) · km ដេកមួយល្បក់ (to have a nap) · fy knipperje (to have a nap) · gl sonetar (to have a nap) · gl adormexar (to have a nap) · uk подріма́ти (to have a nap) · et uinakut tegema (to have a nap) · cmn 打盹 (to have a nap) · es hacer siesta (to have a nap) · pt dormitar (to have a nap) · uk покуня́ти (to have a nap) · cmn 午睡 (to have a nap) · gd dèan dùsal (to have a nap) · cs zdřímnout si (to have a nap) · fi ottaa nokoset (to have a nap) · fr siester (to have a nap) · tl idlip (to have a nap) · pl drzemać (to have a nap) · et tukastama (to have a nap) · ru дрема́ть (to have a nap) · es dormitar (to have a nap) · cs schrupnout si (to have a nap) · ar تَقَيَّلَ (to have a nap) · ru подрема́ть (to have a nap) · tl umidlip (to have a nap) · sl dremati (to have a nap) · bg дре́мя (to have a nap) · ja 昼寝する (to have a nap) · el ελαφροκοιμάμαι (to have a nap) · gl tutar (to have a nap) · gl moquear (to have a nap) · it sonnecchiare (to have a nap) · uk дріма́ти (to have a nap) · ca fer una becaina (to have a nap) · bg дре́мвам (to have a nap) · gl trasvaiar (to have a nap) · uk перекема́рити (to have a nap) · uk перекима́рити (to have a nap) · pt sonecar (to have a nap) · hu szundít (to have a nap) · be драма́ць (to have a nap) · sv ta en tupplur (to have a nap) · cs dát si šlofíka (to have a nap) · cmn 斜 (to have a nap) · es sestear (to have a nap) · gl dormentar (to have a nap) · km ដេក (to have a nap) · ca trencar el son (to have a nap) · it appisolarsi (to have a nap) · yi כאַפּן אַ דרעמל (to have a nap) · uk кема́рити (to have a nap) · es echarse una siesta (to have a nap) · lv snaust (to have a nap) · uk куня́ти (to have a nap) · ja 転寝する (to have a nap) · ko 낮잠을 자다 (to have a nap) · cmn 小睡 (to have a nap) · hu szunyál (to have a nap) · ca fer una capcinada (to have a nap) · ro dormita (to have a nap) · de ein Nickerchen machen (to have a nap) · th งีบ (to have a nap) · tl maidlip (to have a nap) · ms meridap (to have a nap) · nl een dutje doen (to have a nap) · hu szundikál (to have a nap)
ka რული (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · es siesta (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · nl dutje (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · cmn 午睡 (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · es cabezada (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · acw تعسيلة (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · sh dremka (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · cmn 小睡 (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · la intervigilium (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · hu szundi (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ar سِنَة (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · es camarón (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · sk šlofík (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · fr sieste (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ka წათვლემა (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · sh dremež (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · be каро́ткі сон (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ro somnișor (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · acw قيلولة (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · nb lur (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · hi झपकी (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ms مريدڤ (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ms meridap (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · lv snauda (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · sl kinkanje (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · bg дря́мка (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · et suigatus (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · mk дремка (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ca migdiada (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · km ល្បក់ (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · lv snaudiens (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ka თვლემა (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · da lur (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · hu szundikálás (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ms tidur siang (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · gl sesta (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · pt sesta (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ca sesta (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ca becaina (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ota اویقو (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · fi päiväunet (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · gd dùsal (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · fy slûchje (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ca capcinada (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ar قَيْلولة (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · pt soneca (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · cs šlofík (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · tl hipig (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · eu kuluxka (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · sv tupplur (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · it pennichella (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · el υπνάκος (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · lt pokaitis (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · he שנ״צ (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ja 転寝 (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ja 昼寝 (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · fr somme (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · nn høneblund (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ko 낮잠 (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ms ridap (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · fr roupillon (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · eo siesto (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ka წაძინება (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · fa-ira چُرْت (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · pt cochilo (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · et uinak (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · fi tirsat (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · sl dremanje (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · fi nokoset (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · sh drijemež (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ka ხანმოკლე ძილი (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · fi torkut (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · gl soneca (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · gd norrag (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ur جَھپْکی (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · th งีบ (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · sl dremež (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · de Nickerchen (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · km សមាហារ (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ru коро́ткий сон (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · hu szunyókálás (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · tl idlip (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ro pui de somn (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · pl drzemka (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · fy knipperke (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · uk коро́ткий сон (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · et tukastus (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ka ჩათვლემა (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · es motoso (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · it pisolino (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · is blundur (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ro somnuleț (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · mr डुलकी (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · lt pogulis (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · it sonnellino (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · hu szundítás (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · fi nokkaunet (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · tl paghipig (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · ru лёгкий сон (a short period of sleep, especially during the day) · sh дремка (a short period of sleep, especially during the day)
From late Middle English noppe, nappe, from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German noppe, noppen (“to trim the nap”), ultimately from knappen (“to eat, crack”), of imitative origin. Related to the first element of knapsack.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A soft or fuzzy surface, generally on fabric or leather.
There were low bookshelves, there was a thick pinkish Chinese rug in which a gopher could have spent a week without showing his nose above the nap. 1939, Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep, Penguin, published 2011, page 37:
THEY CALL IT the "nap of the Earth," that area from the ground to the level of surrounding trees and hills, the thin rug of foliage and rock folds at the Earth's skin line that has become all-important to the United States Army. 1961, Skyline, page 9:
On his long, gaunt body, he carried no spare flesh, no superfluous beard, his chin having a soft, economical nap to it, like the worn nap of his broad-brimmed hat. 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “16”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:
If incorporated in automatic guidance, this practical pursuit adjustment will enhance pilot acceptance of automatic guidance in following nap-of-the-earth profiles with precision. 1987, Some Data Processing Requirements for Precision Nap-Of-the-Earth (NOE) Guidance and Control of Rotorcraft
I tell thee, Jack Cade the clothier means to dress the commonwealth, and turn it, and set a new nap upon it. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
(countable, uncountable) The common direction, on some kinds of fabric, of the hairs making up the pile.
Instead of grinding the pistons straight around the axis, they are ground diagonally with a special-built machine. As a result, the “nap” of the metal is turned in such a way that, when it meets the “nap” of the cylinder wall, both surfaces quickly develop a high finish which removes the danger of scoring a piston. 1969, Classic Car, volumes 17-19, page 32:
If the fabric has a nap, make sure all pieces are cut with the nap going the same direction.
ga bruth (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · de Flocke (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · de Noppe (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · fa-ira پُرْز (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · ru пушо́к (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · sv lugg (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · hu boholy (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · de Flor (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · mi tawhe (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · fi nukka (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · de Pol (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · it pelucco (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · tl mulmol (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · lv uzkārsums (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · ja 毛羽 (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · tl himulmol (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · mi kerehunga (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · sv lo (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · sl lȃs (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · ja 毳々 (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · de Tuchnoppe (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · izh nukka (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · ga caitín (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · ru ворс (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · bg мъх (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · grc κροκύς (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · hu bolyh (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · el χνούδι (a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather)
From late Middle English noppe, nappe, from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German noppe, noppen (“to trim the nap”), ultimately from knappen (“to eat, crack”), of imitative origin. Related to the first element of knapsack.
Meanings
To form or raise a soft or fuzzy surface on (fabric or leather).
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
napped
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
napped
Tense=Past
lexicographic
napping
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
naps
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
Translations (2)
fi nukata (To form or raise a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather) · ja 毛羽立てる (To form or raise a soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather)
From the name of the French emperor Napoleon I of France.
Meanings
(UK, countable, uncountable) A type of bet in British horse racing, based on the experts' best tips.
4. Races run on English, Welsh or Scottish racecourses. This criterion was included so that media tipsters ^([sic]) nap selections in general could be analysed; the source of naps, The Racing Rag 'tipster table', summarises the nap selections of newspaper tipsters, who restrict their selection to horses running at racecourses in these countries. 2005, Leighton Vaughan-Williams, The Economics of Gambling, page 71:
(uncountable) A card game in which players take tricks; properly Napoleon.
(countable, uncountable) A bid to take five tricks in the card game Napoleon.
To cover (something) with a sauce. (usually in the passive)
Vanilla ice cream topped with a poached or canned pear half, napped with chocolate sauce, and garnished with toasted sliced almonds. 2006, Wayne Gisslen, Mary Ellen Griffin, Professional Cooking for Canadian Chefs:
From Middle English nap (“a bowl”), from Old English hnæpp (“a cup, bowl”), from Proto-West Germanic *hnapp, from Proto-Germanic *hnappaz (“a cup, bowl”). Cognate with Dutch nap (“drinking cup”), Low German Napp (“bowl, cup”), German Napf (“bowl”), Icelandic hnappur (“button, key”). Doublet of hanap. See also nappy.