lappet

American  

[lap-it] / ˈlæp ɪt /

noun

1. a small lap, flap, or loosely hanging part, especially of a garment or headdress.

2. a projecting, lobelike structure in certain invertebrate animals.

3. Ornithology. a wattle or other fleshy process on a bird's head.

4. Textiles.

   1. a rack or bar containing needles, situated at the front of the reed, and used in the production of figured patterns.

   2. an ornamented fabric produced by lappet weaving.

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lappet British  

/ ˈlæpɪt /

noun

1. a small hanging flap or piece of lace, etc, such as one dangling from a headdress

2. zoology a lobelike hanging structure, such as the wattle on a bird's head

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Other Word Forms

• lappeted
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of lappet

First recorded in 1565–75; lap ¹ + -et

Example Sentences

Crocodile fish: As the species lurks around sandy ocean floors, the iris lappet, or lacey covering drooping over its eye, obscures the pupil and improves fish’s overall camouflage.

From Scientific American • May 19, 2021

He had silver buckles to his shoes, and a tiny opal breast-pin on the lappet of his coat, where the white flower goes at weddings.

From Oswald Bastable and Others by Brock, C. E. (Charles Edmund)

All the while betwixt finger and thumb he squeezed and pinched his Wonderstone beneath the lappet of his pocket.

From The Three Mulla-mulgars by De la Mare, Walter

First, it appeared to me as if the lappet of my overcoat pocket were in movement, being raised.

From A Book of Ghosts by Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)

"You do me too much honor," said Petrovitsch, putting one foot over the other and playing with the lappet of his slipper.

From Edelweiss A Story by Auerbach, Berthold