v. Now rare. [UN-2 4.]
1. trans. To uncover by withdrawing a cloth or the like. Also refl. and fig.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 214. As schorne golde schyr her fax þenne schon. On schylderez þat leghe vnlapped lyȝte.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxx. 256. Vnlappe yow belyve wher ye lye.
1656. Baxter, Reformed Pastor, 369. If a cripple do but unlap his sores.
1664. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1806), 441. Satisfied with this, they did not unlap the body.
1809. Mar. Edgeworth, Manœuvring, xv. The influence of her … prettiness, joined to the power of my mother’s irresistible address, have almost lapped me in elysium…. But … I unlapped myself.
1886–. in dial. glossaries, etc. (Yks., Lancs., Chesh.).
2. To unfold; to spread open. Also intr.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1932. Þire princes, sone as þe pistill was put þam in hand,… Vn-lappis liȝtly Þe lefe & þe line redes.
1501. Douglas, Pal. Hon., Prol. 37. The dasy and the maryguld vnlappit, Quhilks all the nicht lay with their leuis happit.
1586. W. Travers, Supplic. Privy Council (1612), 23. Tapestrie which,… being vnlapt and laid open, sheweth plainely to the eye all the worke that is in it.
3. To detach in a strip or flap.
1834–6. Encycl. Metrop. (1845), VIII. 103/2. A curve traced by the extremity of the thread FC, unlapped from the circumference. Ibid. Let the acting face of the tooth b be formed by unlapping a thread from its circumference.
Hence Unlapping vbl. sb.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, etc., 233. In the course of the lapping and unlapping of such a length of webs.
