Lap v.²

Forms: 4–6 lappe, 4–5 wlappe, 5–6 lape, 4– lap. [Not in OE. or in any other Teut. lang.; first recorded c. 1200–1225 in the compound bi-lappe, bi-leppe. Prob. f. LAP sb.¹ in the sense ‘fold’ or ‘piece of cloth.’ The perplexing form wlappe (Wyclif, Pecock) is prob. not original, but due to the influence of the synonymous WRAP v.; it is hardly likely that OF. vloper, veloper, voloper can have contributed to the change of form.]

  1.  trans. To coil, fold, wrap (a garment, or anything supple). Const. about, in, † on, † over, round, † to, † until; also with about, round advs.

a. 1300.  Sarmun, xxxix. in E. E. P. (1862), 5. In to þis world … he broȝte a stinkind felle i-lappid þer an.

a. 1350.  St. Laurence, 194, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 110. Iren plates he gert þam glew And lap until his sides ay new.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 268. That yonge fresshe quene That mantel lapped her aboute.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., vii. 17 (Harl. MS.). She lappid hire taile aboute þe corde of the belle.

1501.  Douglas, Pal. Hon., Prol. 3. Paill Aurora … Her russat mantill … Lappit about the heuinly circumstance.

1569.  Newton, Cicero’s Olde Age, 38 a. The vine … lappeth it selfe fast, to what soever it commeth neare.

1578.  Banister, Hist. Man, I. 19. Nature hath in such wise lapped, and fastened to the tooth [of the Vertebra] a solid Ligament.

1600.  Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 497. The frier lapping a garmente about his arme [etc.].

1677.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 18. Hammer the Plate that is lap’d over the wyre close to the wyre.

1704.  Swift, T. Tub, xi. He would lap a Piece of it about a Sore Toe.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), IV. 121. This is lapped round the rest of the body.

1832.  Blackw. Mag., XXXI. 625. Lapping the skirts … about the little feet.

1839.  Ure, Dict. Arts, 215. After they are bleached … they are lapped round in great lengths of several pieces.

1849.  Rock, Ch. of Fathers, II. 140. Its upper roll, instead of being lapped about, was kept fastened in its place … by a golden pin.

1859.  Tennent, Ceylon, II. VIII. v. 363. They … mutually entwined their trunks, lapped them round their limbs and neck.

  transf.  c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, IX. 146. The wer schippis was lappyt thaim about.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, II. x. 201. About my feit My spous lappit fell doun into the ȝet.

  b.  intr. for refl. Const. about, round. Now rare exc. dial.

1563.  Homilies, II. Agst. Disobedience & Rebel., IV. (1859), 577. A great tree … caught him by … his goodly hair, lapping about it as he fled.

1680.  Vind. Reforming Clergy (ed. 2), 16. This is a fine pliable principle … ’twill lap about your finger like Barbary Gold.

1717.  Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to C’tess Mar, 1 April. This [dress] … laps all round them, not unlike a riding-hood.

1845.  Sir W. Napier, Conq. Scinde, II. vi. 387. The two regiments thus opposed, lapped round the nearest point of the houses.

1883.  Almondbury Gloss., Lap, the end of a piece of cloth, which in weaving laps round the low beam.

  † 2.  To fold, fold up, together; to roll up in successive layers. Const. into. Obs. or dial.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 320. She wafe a cloth of silke all white … And lapped it together.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xciv. (1495), 661. The leues of Lappates ben … wonderly wrallyd and lappyd.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 4568. Quen he had lokid on þe lyne he lappid it to-gedire.

1548–77.  Vicary, Anat., iv. (1888), 30. This Piamater deuideth the substaunce of the Brayne, and lappeth it into certen selles or diuisions.

1561.  Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 95. As a booke lapped vp together.

a. 1568.  Ascham, Lett. to E. Raven. That he may both see news &c. largely told, and also learn to lap up a letter.

1641.  H. Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 22. To give charge that in lapping up a fleece, they allwayes putte the inne side of the fleece outwardes.

1678.  Duchess of Newcastle, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 330. Since I lapt up my letter I writ this.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 347. Bulls’ hides joined, and lapped and rolled one over another.

c. 1790.  Imison, Sch. Art, II. 80. A … clean linen rag lapped up.

  fig.  1577–87.  Holinshed, Chron. (1807–8), IV. 401. Lapping up (among a bundle of other misfortunes) this evill chance.

  3.  To enfold in a wrap or wraps, to enwrap, swathe; hence, to clothe, to bind up, tie round. Const. in, † with, † within. Also with † in, over, round, up. To lap on: to attach or fix on with a lapping of thread or the like. † To lap in lead: to place in a leaden coffin; hence, to entomb.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 175. Alle þyn oþer lymez lapped ful clene, Þenne may þou se þy sauior.

c. 1325.  Kyng & Hermyt, 289, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 24. Go to slepe, And I schall lape thee with my cope.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr. (1866), 5. Laid in a crib and lappid in clathis.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xxvii. 59. The body taken, Ioseph wlappide [1388 lappide] it in a clene sendel.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 2300. They … bawmede þaire honourliche kynges,… Lappede them in lede.

c. 1450.  ME. Med. Bk. (Heinrich), 170. Lappe hem [warts] in wort leues.

1530.  Test. Ebor. (Surtees), V. 292. Unto every ij or iij gud and discreit women that wyndes and lappis my body in one sheit … iiijd.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, III. iii. 317. The seede, lapped as it were in a certaine white wooll.

1601.  Dent, Pathw. Heaven, 376. Christ Iesus … will swaddle you, and lappe you.

1608.  Middleton, Mad World, II. ii. 44. Let him trap me in gold, and I’ll lap him in lead.

1627.  Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., xiii. 60. With a malet in the one hand, & a plug lapped in Okum … in the other.

1685.  R. Burton, Eng. Emp. Amer., iv. 83. I shewed the Captain and his Wife my fingers, who … bid me lap it up again.

1727.  Swift, Gulliver, II. i. I … laid myself at full length upon the handkerchief, with the remainder of which he lapped me up to the head.

1780.  Phil. Trans., LXX. App. 3. This brush is again lapped round with thread.

1817.  Scott, Harold, I. xx. The good old Prelate lies lapp’d in lead.

1821.  Clare, Vill. Minstr., II. 31. The mower too lapt up his scythe from our sight.

1832.  Blackw. Mag., XXXI. 624. I had fished…; but having broken my top in an unlucky leap, was … lapping the fracture.

1861.  Reade, Cloister & H., lv. (1896), 154. A good dozen of spices lapped in flax paper.

1867.  F. Francis, Angling, xiii. (1880), 467. Lay the tail to the hook … and lap it on securely.

1876.  Preece & Sivewright, Telegraphy, 233. The ends are lapped over with tape and yarn to prevent abrasion of the gutta percha.

  transf.  1388.  Wyclif, Exod. xiv. 27. The Lord wlappide hem in the myddis of the floodis.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, ii. (1617), 16. The Sea and Earth together are lapped vp in the Ayre.

1602.  Marston, Antonio’s Rev., III. iii. Wks. 1856, I. 111. Were thy heart lapt up In any flesh but in Piero’s bloode, I would thus kisse it.

a. 1628.  Preston, New Covt. (1634), 96. Who lookes upon him as lapping the waters as in a garment.

1657.  W. Morice, Coena quasi Κοινὴ, Pref. 2. The reasons thereof in writing … I lapt up in one sheet, and transmitted to him.

1860.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. IX. ii. § 19. 216. Lapped in pale Elysian mist.

  † b.  To hem in, press close upon with a hostile force, or with something noxious. Also with about, in. Obs. (in later use only Sc.)

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 276. Lap þam bituex ȝow.

c. 1430.  Syr Tryam., 1057. They lapped hym in on every syde.

14[?].  Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 94. Thus ame I lappyd all a-boute; With todys and snaks.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, IX. 1843. Thiddyr he past, and lappyt it [Dunde] about.

1552.  Lyndesay, Monarche, 3974. The Romanis lappit thame about, That be no waye thay mycht wyn out.

  † c.  To fold (in the arms); to clasp, embrace.

c. 1350.  Parlt. Three Ages (text B), 247. With ladis full lufly lapped yn armes.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Compl. Mars, 76. This worthi Mars that is of knyghthode wel The flour of feyrenesse lappeth in his armes.

c. 1440.  Bone Flor., 113. Sche schall … in hur lovely armes me lappe.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VI. 54. He at will may lap hyr in his armys.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, III. ix. 38. Gruling on his kneis, He lappit me fast by baith the theis.

  † d.  Proverb. To be lapped in one’s mother’s smock: to be born to fortune. Obs.

1690.  W. Walker, Idiomat. Anglo-Lat., 262. He was lapt in his mother’s smock, (planc fortunæ filius).

  4.  In immaterial senses. † a. To involve; to imply, include; to implicate, entangle; to wrap up in a disguise. Obs.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter xlviii. 1. Rightwismen þat ere not … lappid in errours of þe warld.

1395.  Purvey, Remonstr. (1851), 3. No preest or dekene wlappith hymself in seculer officis.

c. 1425.  Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 126. And … er they coude beware, With a sodeyn pyry, he lappyd hem in care.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., xxvii. 103 (Harl. MS.). I am a thef, scil. lappid with swiche a synne.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xiii. 4. I am al lappyd In sorow.

c. 1540.  trans. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden, No. 29), 112. Howsooer the matter was lapped up, it is apparent.

1549.  [see LAPPING vbl. sb.² 1 c].

1552.  Latimer, Serm. Gosp., i. 150. He lappeth up all thynges in Loue. Ibid., 5th Serm. Lord’s Prayer (1562), 37. This Vs lappeth in al other men with my prayer.

1589.  R. Robinson, Gold. Mirr. (Chetham Soc.), 25. No … secret shift so closely lapt, but Time the trueth shall trie.

1594.  Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, xi. (1596), 172. Herein is lapped vp a very great secret.

1627–77.  Feltham, Resolves, II. xxix. 218. You shall … whether you will or no … be lapp’d in some drunken fray.

  b.  Of conditions or influences: To enfold, surround, esp. with soothing, stupefying or seductive effect. Often with round.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 740. Swiche listes of loue hadde lapped his hert.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 465. Soche likyng of loue lappit hir within.

c. 1450.  Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 125. The plage of dompnesse his leppis lappyd.

1632.  Milton, L’Allegro, 136. And ever against eating Cares Lap me in soft Lydian Aires, Married to immortal verse.

1745.  Warton, Pleas. Melanch., 201. Till all my soul is … lapp’d in Paradise.

1806.  Moore, Genius Harmony, i. 19. Such downy dreams, As lap the spirit of the seventh sphere.

1819.  S. Rogers, Hum. Life, 757. Lapping the soul in sweetest melancholy!

1821.  Joanna Baillie, Metr. Leg., Ghost of Fadon, liv. A spell of horror lapped him round.

1853.  M. Arnold, Requiescat, 12. For peace her soul was yearning, And now peace laps her round.

1871.  L. Stephen, Playgr. Europe, viii. (1894), 174. I was … lapped in some dim consciousness that I had still an hour and a half before … starting.

1877.  L. Morris, Epic Hades, I. 13. I who was … Only a careless boy lapt round with ease.

1880.  Swinburne, Songs Springtides, 17. The joy that like a garment … lapped him over and under.

  5.  With allusion to LAP sb. 5: To enfold caressingly like a child in its mother’s lap; to nurse, fondle, caress; to surround with soothing and shielding care. Now chiefly pass., to be nursed in luxury, etc.

c. 1430.  Hymns Virg., 3. Þou … Þat lappid me loueli with liking song.

c. 1430.  Syr Tryam., 417. Sche toke up hur sone to hur And lapped hyt fulle lythe.

1556.  J. Heywood, Spider & F., ii. 16. Who all my life haue beene Lapped in lap of thy fayre flattering flowres.

a. 1649.  Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, Wks. (1711), 18. It is his hap To lie lap’d in her lap.

1811.  W. R. Spencer, Nursing True Love, 1. Lapt on Cythera’s golden sands.

1822.  Hazlitt, Table-t., Ser. II. xvi. (1869), 323. We grow fastidious, effeminate, lapped in idle luxury.

1847.  Bushnell, Chr. Nurt., II. ii. (1861), 259. The child that is … lovingly lapped in the peaceful trust of Providence, is born to a glorious heritage.

1862.  Goulburn, Pers. Relig., II. III. viii. 202. Moses has been lapped in royal luxury from his infancy.

1865.  Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XII. ix. (1872), IV. 210. Beautiful blue world of Hills … fruitful valleys lapped in them.

1870.  Bryant, Iliad, I. VI. 189. There is a town Lapped in the pasture-grounds.

  6.  trans. a. To lay (something) on, over (another thing) so as partly to cover it. b. Of a slide-valve: To pass over and close (a port). Also, to cause (a slide-valve) to overlap the port. c. ? U.S. Of a boat, in racing: To come partly alongside (another).

1607.  Markham, Caval., II. (1617), 175. Till you perceiue at last he lap and throw his outmost leg ouer his inmost.

1676.  Grew, Anat. Plants, IV. II. ii. § 2 (1682), 164. The Leaves of the Flower of Blattaria … are so lapped one over another, as to make an Equilateral Pentangle.

1678.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 67. Two Boards are thus lapped on the edges over one another.

1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1811), IV. 157. [She] Lapped one horse-lip over the other and was silent.

1825.  J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 626. When laid on the roof, they [slates] are bonded and lapped as in common slating.

1869.  E. Malbon, in Eng. Mech., 3 Dec., 282/3. Lapping the high pressure valves will greatly raise the exhaust side.

1879.  Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 79/1. The edge-joints, as well as the butts, are generally lapped.

  b.  1870.  Eng. Mech., 28 Jan., 482/3. The steam-valve … commences to lap its port by the motion of the eccentric.

  c.  1897.  Webster, s.v. Lap, The hinder boat lapped the foremost one.

  7.  intr. † a. To lap on to, over, upon (something): to lie upon, so as to cover partially, also, to lie upon and project over, overlap. b. To project into (something).

1677.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 18. Double the end of the Plate … over the wyre to lap over it.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), IV. 120. One edge sticks in the skin, while the other laps over that immediately behind it.

1776–96.  Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), II. 399. Calyx segments lapping over each other.

1779.  Projects, in Ann. Reg., 103/2. When either of the ends of any of the laths laps over other laths.

1843.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., IV. I. 34. They should be laid as regularly as possible—one part lapping on to the next layer. Ibid. (1846), VII. I. 51. The four furrows … then lie two furrows right and left, lapping on to the furrow-slices thrown out of the old furrows.

c. 1850.  Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 128. The mast-carlings are said to lap upon the beams by reason of their great depth; and head-ledges at the ends lap over the coamings.

1853.  G. Johnston, Nat. Hist. E. Bord., I. 263. They lap over rocks and shelving banks.

1854.  Kelly & Tomlinson, trans. Arago’s Astron., 57. If the two images of the sun be made to lap over each other.

1856.  Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxiii. 286. One end lapped into the west side a considerable distance.

  8.  With over adv.: To project beyond something else, forming a lap or flap; fig. to extend beyond some limit.

1631.  R. Byfield, Doctr. Sabb., 102. The … end … lapped orer, and strucke the childe.

a. 1661.  Fuller, Worthies (1840), I. 343. Worldly wealth he cared not for, desiring only to make both ends meet; and as for that little that lapped over he gave it to pious uses.

1681.  Grew, Musæum, 171. The upper Wings…, at their hinder ends, where they lap over, transparent … like the Wing of a Fly.

1895.  Mackail, Latin Lit., 135. He outlived Augustus by three years, and so laps over into the sombre period of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

  9.  a. Euchre. [Cf. LAP sb.³ 3.] intr. (See quot.) b. Racing. [Cf. LAP sb.³ 5 b.] trans. To get one or more laps ahead of (a competitor).

1890.  ‘Cavendish,’ Pocket Guide to Euchre, 9. If the score of a game laps (that is, if more points are made than are necessary to win a game), the surplus is carried to the next game.

1890.  Illustr. Sporting & Dram. News, 26 April, 210/1. He lapped most of his opponents before half the distance was covered.

1897.  Daily News, 30 Aug., 3/3. Stocks started well, and lapped his opponents in the first 20 miles.

  10.  [Properly another word, f. LAP sb.³ sense 4.] trans. To reduce raw cotton to a lap.

1851.  Art Jrnl. Illustr. Catal., p. iv**/1. This cylinder is cleaned of the teazed cotton by means of brushes, which deliver the cotton on to fluted rollers so regularly, that it comes out of the machine lapped into the form of a broad, felt-like web of cleaned cotton.

1879.  T. H. S. Escott, England, I. 150. The various rooms for scutching, lapping, carding and roving the raw fibre [cotton].

  11.  Comb., as lap-band, -bander, dial. (see quots.); lap-work, work in which one part is interchangeably lapped over another.

1681.  Grew, Musæum, 373. The Ground is a Packthred-Caule; not Netted, but Woven. Into which by the Indian-Women are wrought, by a kind of Lap-Work, the Quills of Porcupines.

1829.  Brockett, N. C. Words, Lapbander, that which binds closely one thing to another…. A tremendous oath is frequently called a lap-bander.

1868.  Atkinson, Cleveland Gloss., Lap-band, hoop-iron.