nap

¹

[nap]

verb (used without object)

napped, napping 

1. to sleep for a short time; doze.

   Synonyms: catnap, rest, nod

2. to be off one's guard.

   The question caught him napping.

verb (used with object)

napped, napping 

1. to sleep or doze through (a period of time, an activity, etc.) (usually followed byaway ).

   I napped the afternoon away. He naps away most of his classes.

noun

1. a brief period of sleep, especially one taken during daytime.

   Has the baby had her nap?

nap

²

[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.

verb (used with object)

napped, napping 

1. to raise a nap on.

nap

³

[nap]

noun

1. napoleon.

-nap

⁴

1. a combining form extracted from kidnap, with the general sense “abduct or steal in order to collect a ransom”.

   artnap; petnap; starnap.

nap

¹

/ næp /

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. 1. to undertake to win all five tricks at nap

   2. to risk everything on one chance

5. slang,  to hold in disfavour

6. a position in which there is a very good chance of success if a risk is taken

verb

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

nap

²

/ næp /

noun

1. 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. informal,  blankets, bedding

verb

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

nap

³

/ næp /

verb

1. to sleep for a short while; doze

2. to be unaware or inattentive; be off guard (esp in the phrase catch someone napping )

noun

1. a short light sleep; doze

Other Word Forms

• napless adjective
• naplessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nap¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb nappen, Old English hnappian, hnæppian “to sleep, slumber, doze”; cognate with Old High German (h)naffezen, Middle High German, German nafzen “to slumber”

Origin of nap²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English noppe, nop(e); probably from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, nop, noppe; possibly from Old English (wull)hnoppa “(wool) tuft, tuft”

Origin of nap³

First recorded in 1820–25; shortened form of napoleon

Word History and Origins

Origin of nap¹

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

Origin of nap²

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

Origin of nap³

Old English hnappian; related to Middle High German napfen

Example Sentences

He did not see Ethan because Shannon Ives said her son was napping.

From BBC

In the hours leading up to the Dodgers’ Sept. 10 game against the Colorado Rockies, Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt was taking a nap.

From Los Angeles Times

The team states the facility will also feature an outdoor spa, indoor hydrotherapy suites, dedicated nap rooms, wellness spaces for yoga or mediation, and extensive use of natural light and retractable doors.

From Los Angeles Times

Last year, when the pair became new — and newly exhausted — parents, their reprieve was watching a TV show on a streaming service while their daughter napped.

From Los Angeles Times

Since then, I’ve asked it about helping with a nap schedule and used it as a sounding board to complain at 2 a.m. when my baby is wide awake — and I’m not alone.

From Salon