nap (2) — ODE

nap2 /nap

▸ noun

1 [in singular] the raised hairs or threads on the surface of fabric or suede leather, in terms of the direction in which they naturally lie:

carefully machine the seam, following the direction of the nap.

2 Australian English informal, dated a bedroll used for sleeping on in the open.

– DERIVATIVES

napless /ˈnapləs

/ adjective

– ORIGIN late Middle English noppe, from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German noppe ‘nap’, noppen ‘trim the nap from’. nap (sense 2 of the noun)2 is probably from knapsack.