napper

¹ American  

[nap-er] / ˈnæp ər /

noun

1. a textile worker who naps cloth.

2. a machine for putting a nap on cloth.

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napper ² American  

[nap-er] / ˈnæp ər /

noun

1. a person who naps or dozes.

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napper ¹ British  

/ ˈnæpə /

noun

1. a person or thing that raises the nap on cloth

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napper ² British  

/ ˈnæpə /

noun

1. a slang or dialect word for head

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Etymology

Origin of napper¹

First recorded in 1760–70; nap ² + -er ¹

Origin of napper²

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at nap ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

He is also not the first president to nap or fall asleep during meetings — Calvin Coolidge was also a notorious napper.

From Salon • Dec. 9, 2025

To be completely honest, I am a napper on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday too.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 11, 2024

A light pulse could rouse them, but after about 20 minutes of quiescence, the animals responded slowly to such pulses, much like a groggy napper.

From Scientific American • Jun. 16, 2023

After all, such a throng stood awake between the napper and the players that they couldn’t have heard.

From Washington Post • Jul. 14, 2022

Which was an odd thing for her to say because Flora's mother was not, in any way, a napper.

From "Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures" by Kate DiCamillo