Definition of "nappy" in English

noun

1. (British, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand) 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.

verb

1. (transitive) To put a nappy on.

   • The mother nappied the baby.

adjective

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. (US, informal, sometimes offensive) Of hair: tightly curled or twisted; frizzy (often specifically in reference to Afro textured hair)

3. (rare) Inclined to sleep; sleepy.

noun

1. A shallow, flat-bottomed earthenware or glass bowl with sloping sides.

adjective

1. (of a drink) Foamy; having a large head.

2. (of a horse) Nervous, excitable.

noun

1. (obsolete) A kind of strong ale; nappy ale.

   • 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
   • 1857, Hugh Miller, The Cruise of the Betsey, 2009, Echo Library, page 248, Weel do I mind that in a′ our neeborly meetings—bridals, christenings, lyke-wakes an′ the like,—we entertained ane anither wi′ rich nappy ale; […] . But the tea has put out the nappy; an′ I have remarked, that by losing the nappy we lost baith ghaists an′ fairies.

adjective

1. (Scotland) Brittle.