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nap1

[nap]
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verb (used without object), napped, nap·ping.
  1. to sleep for a short time; doze.
  2. to be off one's guard: The question caught him napping.
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verb (used with object), napped, nap·ping.
  1. to sleep or doze through (a period of time, an activity, etc.) (usually followed by away): I napped the afternoon away. He naps away most of his classes.
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noun
  1. a brief period of sleep, especially one taken during daytime: Has the baby had her nap?
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Origin of nap1

before 900; Middle English nappen (v.), nap (noun), Old English hnappian to sleep; cognate with Middle High German napfen

Synonyms

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1. nod, rest, catnap.

nap2

[nap]
noun
  1. the short fuzzy ends of fibers on the surface of cloth, drawn up in napping.
  2. any downy coating, as on plants.
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verb (used with object), napped, nap·ping.
  1. to raise a nap on.
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Origin of nap2

1400–50; late Middle English noppe, Old English -hnoppa (as in wullknoppa, mistake for *wullhnoppa tuft of wool), cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German noppe; akin to Old English hnoppian to pluck
Related formsnap·less, adjectivenap·less·ness, noun

nap3

[nap]
noun
  1. napoleon(defs 2, 3).
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Origin of nap3

shortened form

-nap

  1. a combining form extracted from kidnap, with the general sense “abduct or steal in order to collect a ransom”: artnap; petnap; starnap.
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Lajoie

[lash-uh-wey]
noun
  1. NapoleonNap, 1875–1959, U.S. baseball player.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

intermissionpausenodcatnapspotrestinterludebreakdozerespiteshuteyesiestasnoozewalefibergritfeelwarproughnessdown

Examples from the Web for nap

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Only some chips that I'm saving till mother has her nap out.

  • Mary dismissed Garson presently, and betook herself to her bedroom for a nap.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

  • You feel sleepy after your meals, and willingly enjoy a nap?

  • How long my nap lasted, or what took place in the interval, I cannot say.

    Ned Myers

    James Fenimore Cooper

  • The man did not stay long, however, and I got a nap as soon as he disappeared.

    Ned Myers

    James Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for nap

nap1

verb naps, napping or napped (intr)
  1. to sleep for a short while; doze
  2. to be unaware or inattentive; be off guard (esp in the phrase catch someone napping)
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noun
  1. a short light sleep; doze
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Word Origin

Old English hnappian; related to Middle High German napfen

nap2

noun
    1. the raised fibres of velvet or similar cloth
    2. the direction in which these fibres lie when smoothed down
  2. any similar downy coating
  3. Australian informal blankets, bedding
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verb naps, napping or napped
  1. (tr) to raise the nap of (cloth, esp velvet) by brushing or similar treatment
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Word Origin

C15: probably from Middle Dutch noppe; related to Old English hnoppian to pluck

nap3

noun
  1. Also called: napoleon a card game similar to whist, usually played for stakes
  2. a call in this card game, undertaking to win all five tricks
  3. horse racing a tipster's choice for an almost certain winner
  4. go nap
    1. to undertake to win all five tricks at nap
    2. to risk everything on one chance
  5. not to go nap on Australian slang to hold in disfavour
  6. nap hand a position in which there is a very good chance of success if a risk is taken
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verb naps, napping or napped
  1. (tr) horse racing to name (a horse) as likely to win a race
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Word Origin

C19: short for napoleon, the original name of the card game
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

Word Origin and History for nap

n.1

"downy surface of cloth," mid-15c., from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German noppe "nap, tuft of wool," probably introduced by Flemish cloth-workers. Cognate with Old English hnoppian "to pluck," ahneopan "pluck off," Old Swedish niupa "to pinch," Gothic dis-hniupan "to tear."

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v.1

Old English hnappian "to doze, sleep lightly," of unknown origin, apparently related to Old High German hnaffezan, German dialectal nafzen, Norwegian napp. Related: Napped; napping.

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n.2

"short spell of sleep," c.1300, from nap (v.). With take (v.) from c.1400.

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v.2

"to furnish with a nap, raise the nap of," 1610s, from nap (n.1).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper