nappy

¹ American  

[nap-ee] / ˈnæp i /

noun

Chiefly Scot.

1. liquor, especially ale.

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nappy ² American  

[nap-ee] / ˈnæp i /

Or nappie

noun

plural

nappies

1. a small shallow dish, usually round and often of glass, with a flat bottom and sloping sides, for serving food.

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nappy ³ American  

[nap-ee] / ˈnæp i /

adjective

nappier, nappiest

1. Sometimes Offensive. (especially of a Black person's hair) tightly curled; kinky.

2. covered with nap; downy.

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nappy ⁴ American  

[nap-ee] / ˈnæp i /

noun

British.

plural

nappies

1. a diaper.

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nappy ¹ British  

/ ˈnæpɪ /

adjective

1. having a nap; downy; fuzzy

2. 1. having a head; frothy

   2. strong or heady

3. dialect slightly intoxicated; tipsy

4. (of a horse) jumpy or irritable; nervy

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noun

1. any strong alcoholic drink, esp heady beer

nappy ² British  

/ ˈnæpɪ /

noun

1. Also called: napkin.  US and Canadian name: diaper.  a piece of soft material, esp towelling or a disposable material, wrapped around a baby in order to absorb its urine and excrement

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Other Word Forms

• nappiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of nappy¹

First recorded in 1425–75; origin uncertain; probably from late Middle English noppi; see nap ², -y ¹

Origin of nappy²

First recorded in 1730–35; Middle English nap, Old English hnæpf, hnæp “cup, bowl” (further origin uncertain) + -y ²

Origin of nappy³

First recorded in 1490–1500; nap ² + -y ¹

Origin of nappy⁴

First recorded in 1925–30; nap(kin) + -y ²

Example Sentences

She said it was only when she returned to the bedroom that she noticed Thea was lying on the floor without her nappy or the blanket that had been covering her.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

She said she went to find Thea lying on the floor, without the nappy she had been wearing or the blanket that had been covering her.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

Skye Tucker fell from a nappy changing table at Little Clouds Nursery in Altens, Aberdeen, in January this year - just 90 minutes into her first day.

From BBC • Nov. 12, 2025

Her mother Najwa, 23, is changing Siwar's nappy.

From BBC • May 6, 2025

They sculpted for themselves a virtual world where their coily, kinky, nappy, woolly hair was normal.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• diaper