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nap

1. Woolly or villous surface of felt, cloth, plants, etc.; an external covering of down, of short fine hairs or fibres forming part of the substance of anything, and lying smoothly in one direction; the pile; as, the nap of cotton flannel or of broadcloth.

2. The loops which are cut to make the pile, in velvet.

Origin: OE. Noppe, AS. Hnoppa; akin to D. Nop, Dan. Noppe, LG. Nobbe.