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

nappies plural

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.

nappies plural

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

Derived Forms

• nappiness
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• nappies
  plural

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

See Examples For:

nappy nappies nappiest

"I changed my daughter's nappy in front of him," she said.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

“You also see the outside: baby’s dirty nappy or Margo’s ordinary knickers or track pants, all the unglamorous and unsexy things.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026

"She was on a reduced timetable for most of the year and I had to go in to change her nappy because they weren't able to do that," she said.

From BBC ● May 16, 2026

There was a large nappy on his head and hands and he had a wet wipe type cloth inserted in his mouth.

From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2026

The child badly needed a change of nappy.

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman

Due to food choice being limited at the larder, Matthew said he mainly used it for nappies, toilet roll, shampoo and some food for himself.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

I was lucky because I was there for my son’s first year — I didn’t have any Radiohead, so I changed the first nappies, and I loved it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

A handful of mainly religious and aid groups hand out food, water, sanitary towels and nappies.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

At 30 years and five months old, Lazare wore nappies, could no longer hear or see, and slept almost all day.

From Barron's ● May 15, 2026

I tell him all about the diapers and the nappies and how they get shitty anyway and he laughs.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt

Oh, born beneath the Fishes' sign,   Of constellations happiest, May he somewhere with Walton dine, May Horace send him Massic wine,   And Burns Scotch drink, the nappiest!

From The Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell by Lowell, James Russell

O, born beneath the Fishes' sign, Of constellations happiest, May he somewhere with Walton dine, May Horace send him Massic wine, And Burns Scotch drink,—the nappiest!

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 18, No. 105, July 1866 by Various

Related Words

• diaper