Nap Definition

năp

napped, napping, naps

noun

naps

A brief, light sleep; doze.

Webster's New World

The downy or hairy surface of cloth formed by short hairs or fibers, esp. when artificially raised by brushing, etc.; pile.

Webster's New World

Any such downy surface, as that raised on the flesh side of leather.

Webster's New World

The highest bid in this game, announcing the intention to win five tricks, the maximum number in a hand.

American Heritage

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

napped, napping, naps

To doze or sleep lightly for a short time.

Webster's New World

To raise a nap on (fabric or leather), as by brushing.

Webster's New World

To be unaware of imminent danger or trouble; be off guard.

The civil unrest caught the police napping.

American Heritage

To be careless or unprepared.

Webster's New World

To pour or put a sauce or gravy over (a cooked dish).

American Heritage

Synonyms:

affix

To seize and carry away; steal.

Dognap, petnap.

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Nap

Singular:

nap

Plural:

From Middle English nappen, from Old English hnappian (“to doze, slumber, sleep"), from Proto-Germanic *hnappōnÄ… (“to nap"). Cognate with Old High German hnaffezan, hnaffezzan (> Middle High German nafzen (“to slumber") > German dialectal napfezen, nafzen (“to nod, slumber, nap")).

From Wiktionary
Alteration (perhaps influenced by obsolete French nape tablecloth) of Middle English noppe from Middle Dutch

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Middle English from nappen to doze from Old English hnappian

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
possibly Scandanavian, cognate with nab, see Swedish nappa (“pinch")

From Wiktionary
French napper from nappe cover nappe

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From the name of the French emperor Napoleon I of France (Bonaparte)

From Wiktionary
From French napper, from nappe (“nape").

From Wiktionary
From Middle English nappe, from Middle Dutch

From Wiktionary
Short for napoleon

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition