nappy

¹

[ nap-ee ]

noun

, Chiefly Scot.

1. liquor, especially ale.

nappy

²

or nap·pie

[ nap-ee ]

noun

, plural nap·pies.

1. a small shallow dish, usually round and often of glass, with a flat bottom and sloping sides, for serving food.

nappy

³

[ nap-ee ]

adjective

, nap·pi·er, nap·pi·est.

1. Sometimes Offensive. (especially of a Black person's hair) tightly curled; kinky.
2. covered with nap; downy.

nappy

⁴

[ nap-ee ]

noun

, British.

, plural nap·pies.

1. a diaper.

nappy

¹

/ ˈnæpɪ /

noun

1. a piece of soft material, esp towelling or a disposable material, wrapped around a baby in order to absorb its urine and excrement Also callednapkin US and Canadian namediaper

nappy

²

/ ˈnæpɪ /

adjective

1. having a nap; downy; fuzzy
2. of alcoholic drink, esp beer
   1. having a head; frothy
   2. strong or heady
3. dialect.
   slightly intoxicated; tipsy
4. (of a horse) jumpy or irritable; nervy

noun

1. any strong alcoholic drink, esp heady beer

Derived Forms

• ˈnappiness, noun

Other Words From

• nappi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of nappy¹

C20: changed from napkin

Example Sentences

"When we went in the next morning, she was in a huge pad - not even a nappy, it didn't close on either side."

From BBC

"When he died, it was a relief. He was lying in bed, couldn't talk, couldn't eat, laid there with a nappy on. No-one would want to live like that, and I didn't want him to live like that."

From BBC

"A child in a nappy has a disadvantage from day one," she said.

From BBC

Ms Faulkner said she had seen discarded banana skins and nappy bags at the site.

From BBC

Burrow lost weight and could not kick a ball with his son or change a nappy, but he retained his spirit despite losing his independence.

From BBC

Related Words

• diaper