yap

¹

[ yap ]

verb (used without object)

, yapped, yap·ping.

1. to bark sharply, shrilly, or snappishly; yelp.
2. Slang. to talk shrilly, noisily, or foolishly.

verb (used with object)

, yapped, yap·ping.

1. to utter by yapping.

noun

1. a sharp, shrill, or snappish bark; yelp.
2. Slang.
   1. shrill, noisy, or foolish talk.
   2. the mouth:

      Keep your yap shut.

3. Slang. an uncouth or stupid person; bumpkin; fool.

Yap

²

[ yahp, yap ]

noun

1. one of the Caroline Islands, in the W Pacific: part of the Federated States of Micronesia. 83 sq. mi. (215 sq. km).

Yap

¹

/ jɑːp; jæp /

noun

1. a group of four main islands in the W Pacific, in the W Caroline Islands: administratively a district of the US Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands from 1947; became self-governing in 1979 as part of the Federated States of Micronesia; important Japanese naval base in World War II. Pop: 11 647 (2006 est). Area: 101 sq km (39 sq miles)

yap

²

/ jæp /

verb

1. (of a dog) to bark in quick sharp bursts; yelp
2. informal.
   to talk at length in an annoying or stupid way; jabber

noun

1. a high-pitched or sharp bark; yelp
2. slang.
   annoying or stupid speech; jabber
3. slang.
   a derogatory word for mouth

interjection

1. usually reiterated an imitation or representation of the sound of a dog yapping or people jabbering

Derived Forms

• ˈyappy, adjective
• ˈyapper, noun

Other Words From

• yapper noun
• yapping·ly adverb
• yappy adjective yappier yappiest

Word History and Origins

Origin of yap¹

1595–1605; 1900–05 yap fordef 5b; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of yap¹

C17: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

The overall moral of his story was "Women keep yapping about it, so we'll promise they can have it to shut them up."

From Salon

On a quiet weekday evening inside a restaurant in Brooklyn, a dog under a table announced its presence with a single pronounced yap.

From New York Times

“Think I’ll have the hellhound as my appetizer. Shut up that yapping,” Mack says.

From Literature

The yapping mutts were just a sideshow, however, to the main event, which was announced from a dais by Sarah Furness, a local dignitary: the unveiling of Britain’s first memorial statue to Queen Elizabeth II.

From New York Times

In 2009, a lawyer who lived on Central Park West filed a suit claiming that the intense “whining, barking, yapping and squealing” by her neighbor’s two Chihuahuas was causing agonizing back pain.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• babble
• ramble