English
nappy
A diminutive in -y.
Proto-West Germanic *hnappōn ‘to nap’
Old English hnappian ‘to doze, slumber, sleep’
Middle English nappen ‘to nap or doze’
English nap
The story
The base is probably napkin but possibly French nappe directly (note that napkin is already a diminutive).
Another origin of nappy
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*hnappaz‘bowl, goblet, cup’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*hnapp‘bowl, cup’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150hnæp‘cup, bowl’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500nap
- Englishtodaynappy
Today it means
noun 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.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / nappy