lappet

[ lap-it ]

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.

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

  2. Textiles.

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

    • an ornamented fabric produced by lappet weaving.

Origin of lappet

1
First recorded in 1565–75; lap1 + -et

Other words from lappet

  • lap·pet·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lappet in a sentence

  • For indoors, and for dress parties, the lace lappets are replaced by ribbon like the bunches.

  • Then he lifted up the lappets of his coat and waistcoat, and showed half-a-dozen pistols stuck into his girdle.

    The Landleaguers | Anthony Trollope
  • Is he the great man in the kilt I saw holding on to her lappets?

    The Cabinet Minister | Arthur Pinero
  • The expression of her face as she looked up at George between the white lappets of her widow's cap was resolutely severe.

    Trevlyn Hold | Mrs. Henry Wood
  • I found means to approach her Majesty, who said to me in a whisper: 'Let down your lappets, or the countess will expire.'

British Dictionary definitions for lappet

lappet

/ (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

Origin of lappet

1
C16: from lap 1 + -et

Derived forms of lappet

  • lappeted, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012