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Synonyms

nappy

1 American  
[nap-ee] / ˈnæp i /

noun

Chiefly Scot.

  1. liquor, especially ale.

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.

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.

nappy 4 American  
[nap-ee] / ˈnæp i /

noun

British.

plural

nappies

  1. a diaper.

nappy 1 British  
/ ˈnæpɪ /

adjective

  1. having a nap; downy; fuzzy

    1. having a head; frothy

    2. strong or heady

  3. dialect slightly intoxicated; tipsy

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

"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

noun

  1. any strong alcoholic drink, esp heady beer

"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
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

"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

Other Word Forms

  • nappiness noun

Etymology

Origin of nappy1

First recorded in 1425–75; origin uncertain; probably from late Middle English noppi; 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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

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

"As someone said to me the other day - it's like putting aftershave on a dirty nappy, rather than changing the nappy," he said.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2025

"Then I have to have two members of staff come out of a classroom to go and change a nappy," Ms Bartholomew explained.

From BBC • May 12, 2025

Even though she came to the door wearing the nappy pink robe and carrying a plastic razor, we could tell that she was in better shape than the day before.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.