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definitions

nap

1
[nap]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nap ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), napped, nap·ping.

to sleep for a short time; doze.
to be off one's guard: The question caught him napping.

verb (used with object), napped, nap·ping.

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.

noun

a brief period of sleep, especially one taken during daytime: Has the baby had her nap?

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RELATED WORDS

intermission, pause, nod, catnap, spot, rest, interlude, break, doze, respite, shuteye, siesta, snooze, wale, fiber, grit, feel, warp, roughness, down

Origin of nap

1
before 900; Middle English nappen (v.), nap (noun), Old English hnappian to sleep; cognate with Middle High German napfen

Synonyms for nap

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nap ON THESAURUS.COM
1. nod, rest, catnap.

nap

2
[nap]

noun

the short fuzzy ends of fibers on the surface of cloth, drawn up in napping.
any downy coating, as on plants.

verb (used with object), napped, nap·ping.

to raise a nap on.

Origin of nap

2
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

nap

3
[nap]

noun

napoleon(defs 2, 3).

Origin of nap

3
shortened form

-nap

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

Lajoie

[lash-uh-wey]

noun

NapoleonNap, 1875–1959, U.S. baseball player.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nap

Contemporary Examples of nap

Historical Examples of nap

  • 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

nap

1

verb naps, napping or napped (intr)

to sleep for a short while; doze
to be unaware or inattentive; be off guard (esp in the phrase catch someone napping)

noun

a short light sleep; doze

Word Origin for nap

Old English hnappian; related to Middle High German napfen

nap

2

noun

  1. the raised fibres of velvet or similar cloth
  2. the direction in which these fibres lie when smoothed down
any similar downy coating
Australian informal blankets, bedding

verb naps, napping or napped

(tr) to raise the nap of (cloth, esp velvet) by brushing or similar treatment

Word Origin for nap

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

nap

3

noun

Also called: napoleon a card game similar to whist, usually played for stakes
a call in this card game, undertaking to win all five tricks
horse racing a tipster's choice for an almost certain winner
go nap
  1. to undertake to win all five tricks at nap
  2. to risk everything on one chance
not to go nap on Australian slang to hold in disfavour
nap hand a position in which there is a very good chance of success if a risk is taken

verb naps, napping or napped

(tr) horse racing to name (a horse) as likely to win a race

Word Origin for nap

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."

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.

n.2

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

v.2

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

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper