nappy

¹ American  

[nap-ee] / ˈnæp i /

noun

Chiefly Scot.

1. liquor, especially ale.

---

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.

---

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.

---

nappy ⁴ American  

[nap-ee] / ˈnæp i /

noun

British.

• nappies
  plural

1. a diaper.

---

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

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nappiness
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• nappies
  plural

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nappy nappies nappiest

Hayley said her daughter was not entitled to them because of her age, but before Lila's death she was using the biggest size of nappy available to buy.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 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

Kearns continued: "The child was completely dry. They had a nappy in situ, which appeared to be appropriately placed."

From BBC ● May 5, 2026

There was a large nappy on his head and hands and he had a wet wipe type cloth inserted in his mouth.

From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2026

Then she went to look for somewhere to put the dirty nappy while Malcolm played with the child and fed her bits of smoked salmon.

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

“At the end of the day, I’m just changing nappies, figuring out who has a fever and doing laundry.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

I was lucky because I was there for my son’s first year — I didn’t have any Radiohead, so I changed the first nappies, and I loved it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

It is further claimed the property was unsanitary, with soiled nappies and spoiled food and drink littered around.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

A handful of mainly religious and aid groups hand out food, water, sanitary towels and nappies.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

He gathered the things in the order he thought them important, so pillows and dry blankets came first, and then nappies and baby milk and other things for Lyra.

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

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

Related Words

• diaper