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sap1 definition

sap (sap)

noun

  1. the juice that circulates through a plant, esp. a woody plant, bearing water, food, etc. to the tissues
  2. any fluid vital to the life or health of an organism
  3. vigor; vitality

  4. Etymology: < saphead

    Slang a stupid person; fool

Etymology: ME < OE sæp, akin to Ger saft < IE base *sab-, var. of *sap-, to taste, perceive > L sapere, to taste, know

transitive verb sapped, sapping sap′·ping

to drain of sap

Related Forms:

sap2 definition

sap (sap)

noun

an extended, narrow trench for approaching or undermining an enemy position or fortification

Etymology: MFr sappe < the v.

transitive verb sapped, sapping sap′·ping

  1. to undermine by digging away foundations; dig beneath
  2. to undermine in any way; weaken; exhaust

Etymology: MFr sapper < sappe, a hoe < VL sappa, orig. he-goat, prob. < Illyrian *zapp-

intransitive verb

  1. to dig saps
  2. to approach an enemy's position by saps
sap3 definition

sap (sap)

noun

☆ Slang a blackjack, short club, etc.

Etymology: prob. orig. contr. < sapling

transitive verb sapped, sapping sap′·ping

Slang to hit on the head, or knock out, with a sap

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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