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

On the shelf in front of him during the abuse were adult nappies used to stem blood, alongside a leather-bound Bible.

From BBC

Some of the victims had to wear adult nappies because of the bleeding they had suffered.

From BBC

"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

Some of the nurses were wearing adult nappies or using patient commodes because there wasn’t time for toilet breaks.

From BBC

He said cuts and changes to non-statutory early intervention services were having a significant impact, with his school having to spend more on nappies, wipes and changing tables.

From BBC

Related Words

• diaper