Nap, nap, n. the woolly substance on the surface of cloth: the downy covering of plants.—v.t. to raise a nap on.—ns. Nap′-mē′ter, a machine for testing the wearing strength of cloth; Nap′piness.—adj. Nap′py. [M. E. noppe: the same as knop.]
Nap, nap, n. a game of cards—Napoleon (q.v.).
Nap, nap, v.t. to seize, to take hold of, steal.
Nape, nāp, n. the back upper part of the neck, perhaps so called from the knob or projecting point of the neck behind. [Knap, knob.]
Napery, nā′per-i, n. linen, esp. for the table: table-cloths, napkins, &c. [O. Fr.,—Low L. naparia—napa, a cloth—L. mappa, a napkin.]
Naphtha, naf′tha, or nap′tha, n. a clear, inflammable liquid distilled from petroleum, wood, coal-tar, &c.: rock-oil.—n. Naph′thalene, a grayish-white, inflammable substance obtained by the distillation of coal-tar.—adj. Naphthal′ic, pertaining to, or derived from, naphthalene.—v.t. Naph′thalise.—ns. Naph′thol, Naphthyl′amine. [L.,—Gr.,—Ar. naft.]
Napierian, nā-pē′ri-an, adj. pertaining to John Napier of Merchiston (1550-1617), the inventor of logarithms.—Napier's bones, or rods, an invention of Napier's for performing mechanically the operations of multiplication and division, by means of sets of rods.
Napiform, nāp′i-form, adj. shaped like a turnip: large and round above and slender below.—adj. Napifō′lious, with leaves like the turnip. [L. napus, a turnip.]
Napkin, nap′kin, n. a cloth for wiping the hands: a handkerchief.—n. Nap′kin-ring, a ring in which a table-napkin is rolled. [Dim. of Fr. nappe.]
Napless, nap′les, adj. without nap: threadbare.