Etymology: Origin unknown. The relationship between α and β forms is unexplained.This word has been identified with nap n.¹ with allusion to the bowl-shaped hollow at the base of the skull, semantically parallel with e.g. Italian coppa cup (12th cent.: see cup n.), nape (a1321 in Dante). However, the occasional early use to render classical Latin vertex crown of the head may suggest some relationship with knap n.¹ and knop n.¹ (with β. forms compare also nope n.², nolp n. and variants s.vv.), although the absence of forms with initial k- would be difficult to explain; in this connection Old Frisian halsknap has been compared, though neither the sense of the compound nor the identity of its second element is clear.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman nape, nap and Middle French nape (c1140 in Old French; French nappe ) < classical Latin mappa map n.¹, with dissimilation of initial consonant (see note). The post-classical Latin forms napa (from c1160 in British sources), nappa (first half of the 13th cent. in British sources) are probably < or after Anglo-Norman and Old French. Compare napkin n.The substitution of n- for m- has been explained as dissimilation of labials (before -p- ), although compare nat n.¹ and discussion at that entry.

Etymology: < classical Latin nāpus turnip, of uncertain etymology, perhaps compare rāpum rape n.⁵ Compare neep n.The etymology < ancient Greek νᾶπυ mustard, asserted by Oxf. Latin Dict., is semantically difficult.

Etymology: Apparently a variant of knap n.¹, perhaps with alteration after nape n.¹

Etymology: Probably < nape n.¹ With the β. forms perhaps compare nolp v., nope v.