Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
verb (used without object), napped, nap·ping.
- to sleep for a short time; doze.
- to be off one’s guard: The question caught him napping.
verb (used with object), napped, nap·ping.
- to sleep or doze through (a period of time, an activity, etc.) (usually followed by away): I napped the afternoon away. He naps away most of his classes.
noun
- a brief period of sleep, especially one taken during daytime: Has the baby had her nap?
noun
- the short fuzzy ends of fibers on the surface of cloth, drawn up in napping.
- any downy coating, as on plants.
verb (used with object), napped, nap·ping.
- to raise a nap on.
verb naps, napping or napped (intr)
- to sleep for a short while; doze
- to be unaware or inattentive; be off guard (esp in the phrase catch someone napping)
noun
- a short light sleep; doze
noun
-
- the raised fibres of velvet or similar cloth
- the direction in which these fibres lie when smoothed down
- any similar downy coating
- Australian informal blankets, bedding
verb naps, napping or napped
- (tr) to raise the nap of (cloth, esp velvet) by brushing or similar treatment
noun
- Also called: napoleon a card game similar to whist, usually played for stakes
- a call in this card game, undertaking to win all five tricks
- horse racing a tipster’s choice for an almost certain winner
- go nap
- to undertake to win all five tricks at nap
- to risk everything on one chance
- not to go nap on Australian slang to hold in disfavour
- nap hand a position in which there is a very good chance of success if a risk is taken
verb naps, napping or napped
- (tr) horse racing to name (a horse) as likely to win a race
n.1“downy surface of cloth,” mid-15c., from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German noppe “nap, tuft of wool,” probably introduced by Flemish cloth-workers. Cognate with Old English hnoppian “to pluck,” ahneopan “pluck off,” Old Swedish niupa “to pinch,” Gothic dis-hniupan “to tear.” v.1Old English hnappian “to doze, sleep lightly,” of unknown origin, apparently related to Old High German hnaffezan, German dialectal nafzen, Norwegian napp. Related: Napped; napping. n.2“short spell of sleep,” c.1300, from nap (v.). With take (v.) from c.1400. v.2“to furnish with a nap, raise the nap of,” 1610s, from nap (n.1).