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• hap
  hap

  noun

  one's luck or lot.
• Hap
  Hap

  noun

  Apis.

hap

¹ American  

[hap] / hæp /

noun

1. one's luck or lot.

2. an occurrence, happening, or accident.

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verb (used without object)

happed, happing

1. to happen.

   if it so hap.

hap ² American  

[hap, ap] / hæp, æp /

noun

1. a comforter or quilt.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cover with or as with a comforter or quilt.

Hap ³ American  

[hahp, khahp] / hɑp, xɑp /

noun

Egyptian Religion.

1. Apis.

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hap ¹ British  

/ hæp /

noun

1. luck; chance

2. an occurrence

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verb

1. (intr) an archaic word for happen

hap ² British  

/ hæp /

verb

1. to cover up; wrap up warmly

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noun

1. a covering of any kind

Etymology

Origin of hap¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English, from Old Norse happ “luck, chance”; akin to Old English gehæp “fit, convenient”; probably akin to Old Church Slavonic kobŭ “auspice,” Old Irish cob “victory”

Origin of hap²

1350–1400; Middle English happen to cover; perhaps blend of lappen lap ² and Old French happer to seize

Example Sentences

It pegs SD Guthrie and Hap Seng Plantations as its top picks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

Lansdale makes a triumphant return to his Hap and Leonard novels with this scorcher.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2024

One hundred years ago this Thursday, goalie Hap Holmes and his exhausted Seattle Metropolitans were fighting to extend not only an epic overtime battle but their very franchise.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 2, 2024

Hap accuses Mina of "putting words in his mouth" when he is just careless about what he says, or how he expresses himself.

From Salon • Sep. 9, 2022

Hap an' a ha'penny is world's gear enough.

From The Proverbs of Scotland by Hislop, Alexander