knap

UK: /næp/ US: (nap)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

knap¹  (nap), n. [Brit. Dial.]

1. British Terms a crest or summit of a small hill.

• bef. 1000; Middle English; Old English cnæpp top, summit; cognate with Old Norse knappr knob

knap²  (nap), v.i., v.t., knapped, knap•ping. [Chiefly Brit. Dial.]

1. British Terms to strike smartly;
   rap.
2. British Terms to break off abruptly.
3. British Terms to chip or become chipped, as a flint or stone.
4. British Terms to bite suddenly or quickly.

• 1425–75; late Middle English; cognate with Dutch knap (noun, nominal), knappen (verb, verbal) crack; origin, originally imitative

knap′per, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

knap / næp/ verb (knaps, knapping, knapped)

1. (transitive) to hit, hammer, or chip

Etymology: 15th Century (in the sense: to strike with a sharp sound): of imitative origin; compare Dutch knappen to crack

ˈknapper noun