nappy

¹ American  

[nap-ee] / ˈnæp i /

noun

Chiefly Scot.

1. liquor, especially ale.

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nappy ² American  

[nap-ee] / ˈnæp i /

Or nappie

noun

• nappies
  plural

1. a small shallow dish, usually round and often of glass, with a flat bottom and sloping sides, for serving food.

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nappy ³ American  

[nap-ee] / ˈnæp i /

adjective

nappier, nappiest

1. Sometimes Offensive. (especially of a Black person's hair) tightly curled; kinky.

2. covered with nap; downy.

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nappy ⁴ American  

[nap-ee] / ˈnæp i /

noun

British.

• nappies
  plural

1. a diaper.

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nappy ¹ British  

/ ˈnæpɪ /

adjective

1. having a nap; downy; fuzzy

2. 1. having a head; frothy

   2. strong or heady

3. dialect slightly intoxicated; tipsy

4. (of a horse) jumpy or irritable; nervy

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noun

1. any strong alcoholic drink, esp heady beer

nappy ² British  

/ ˈnæpɪ /

noun

1. Also called: napkin. US and Canadian name: diaper. a piece of soft material, esp towelling or a disposable material, wrapped around a baby in order to absorb its urine and excrement

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nappiness
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• nappies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of nappy¹

First recorded in 1425–75; origin uncertain; probably from late Middle English noppi; see nap ², -y ¹

Origin of nappy²

First recorded in 1730–35; Middle English nap, Old English hnæpf, hnæp “cup, bowl” (further origin uncertain) + -y ²

Origin of nappy³

First recorded in 1490–1500; nap ² + -y ¹

Origin of nappy⁴

First recorded in 1925–30; nap(kin) + -y ²

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nappy nappies nappiest

Oh, somebody threw a nappy into a sewer,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

"I changed my daughter's nappy in front of him," she said.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

“You also see the outside: baby’s dirty nappy or Margo’s ordinary knickers or track pants, all the unglamorous and unsexy things.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026

"She was on a reduced timetable for most of the year and I had to go in to change her nappy because they weren't able to do that," she said.

From BBC ● May 16, 2026

Lyra had been yelling as Alice washed her and put a clean, dry nappy on her, but it was a shout of general anger rather than distress.

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman

"When I was little, we still had the terry towelling nappies and they had to be washed and hung on the line. So I think with disposable nappies it's easier," she said.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

"We get even more people needing help then because they want to put the heating on, but they still need to buy nappies and feed and clothe their child," she said.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

"We don't need any more clothing, it's the everyday essentials, formula, nappies, wipes, toiletries," said Kavita.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

The Class of '92 were in nappies when John Pratt scored the winner for Tottenham on 4 September 1976.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

I’m to tell him we’re all happy and in the best of health, send money, food is very dear, growing boys eat a lot, ha ha, Alphie the baby needs clothes and nappies.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt

O, born beneath the Fishes' sign, Of constellations happiest, May he somewhere with Walton dine, May Horace send him Massic wine, And Burns Scotch drink,—the nappiest!

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 18, No. 105, July 1866 by Various

Oh, born beneath the Fishes' sign,   Of constellations happiest, May he somewhere with Walton dine, May Horace send him Massic wine,   And Burns Scotch drink, the nappiest!

From The Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell by James Russell Lowell

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Related Words

• diaper

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