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Nappy
Definitions
- 1 Having a nap (of cloth etc.); downy; shaggy.
"1950, US District Courts, US Court of Claims, US Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, Federal Supplement, Volume 89, page 438, The original accused device, as was the patented device, was made of cotton flannel with a nappy surface on each side, […] ."
- 2 Foamy; having a large head.
- 3 Brittle. Scotland
- 4 Of hair: tightly curled or twisted; frizzy (often specifically in reference to Afro textured hair) US, informal, offensive, sometimes
"They could scarcely bear their knowledge, nor could they have borne the sight of Rufus, but they knew why he was in the streets tonight, why he rode subways all night long, why his stomach growled, why his hair was nappy, his armpits funky, his pants and shoes too thin, and why he did not dare to stop and take a leak."
- 5 Nervous, excitable.
"‘He's a mutton-fisted beggar; but the horse is a bit nappy, and young Roger'll be the man to keep him going at his fences.’"
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- 6 Inclined to sleep; sleepy. rare
"After supper I felt nappy and dropped right off to sleep."
- 1 (of hair) in small tight curls wordnet
- 1 An absorbent garment worn by a baby or toddler who does not yet have voluntary control of their bladder and bowels or by someone who is incontinent; a diaper. Australia, British, Ireland, New-Zealand, South-Africa
"You will notice that disposable nappies are sold in boy and girl versions. They vary in where the thickest padding is provided."
- 2 A shallow, flat-bottomed earthenware or glass bowl with sloping sides.
"Suppose you advertise a “five-inch glass nappy.” It doesn′t tell a reader anything — a woman especially. She can′t tell how big five inches are anyway ; but just say, “large imitation cut glass fruit saucers at thirty cents a dozen,” and get your packers ready."
- 3 A kind of strong ale; nappy ale. obsolete, uncountable
"1827, R. Charlton, Newcastle Improvements, in T. Thompson, et al. A Collection of Songs, Comic and Satirical, Chiefly in the Newcastle Dialect, page 151, Aw′ve seen when we′ve gyen iv a kind, freenly way / To be blithe ower a jug o′ good nappy"
- 4 garment consisting of a folded cloth drawn up between the legs and fastened at the waist; worn by infants to catch excrement wordnet
- 1 To put a nappy on. transitive
"The mother nappied the baby."
Etymology
A diminutive in -y. The base is probably napkin but possibly French nappe directly (note that napkin is already a diminutive).
A diminutive in -y. The base is probably napkin but possibly French nappe directly (note that napkin is already a diminutive).
From nap + -y.
From Middle English nap, from Old English hnæp, hnæpp, hnæpf (“cup, bowl”), from Proto-West Germanic *hnapp, from Proto-Germanic *hnappaz (“bowl, goblet, cup”). See hanaper.
Related to knap.
See also for "nappy"
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