Forms: α. 1 lapian, 46, 8 Sc. lape, 56 Sc. laip, 9 Sc. lepe. β. 46 lappe, 4 lap. [OE. lapian = MLG. and MDu. lapen, OHG. laffan; cf. Icel. lepja; the OTeut. root *lap- (cogn. w. L. lambĕre, Gr. λάπτειν to lick, lap) is represented also by OHG. leffil, mod.G. löffel spoon. The normal representative of the OE. word is the obsolete lape; the form lappe, lap may be due to the influence of F. laper (an adoption of the Teut. word).]
† 1. intr. To take up liquid with the tongue. In OE. const. on, in early mod.Eng. in. Obs.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 184. Gebeorh þæt hie neaht nestiʓe lapien on huniʓ.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1434. Let þise ladyes of hem lape.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 215. What man that hath the water nome Up in his hande and lappeth so, To thy part chese out alle tho.
c. 1470. Henryson, Mor. Fab., XII. (Wolf & Lamb), i. [The lamb] In the streme laipit to cuill his thrist.
c. 1570. Marr. Wit & Science, IV. iii. D iij. Alas why hath she this delite to lap in giltles blode?
1607. Shaks., Timon, III. vi. 95. Vncouer Dogges, and lap.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 286 (1810), 296. Cattle accustomed to drink or lap.
1721. Ramsay, On a Punch-bowl, 7. Take up my Ladle, fill, and lape.
1731. Mortimer, in Phil. Trans., XXXVII. 172. And then he lapped again, but could not stand on his Legs.
2. trans. Of animals, rarely of human beings: To take up (liquid, rarely food) with the tongue; to drink greedily up (like an animal). Also with up.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter lxvii. 25. Berkand agayn wickidnes & lapand watire of grace.
1382. Wyclif, Judg. vii. 5. Thilk that with hoond and with tonge lapen the watris.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xvi. (Arb.), 34. There lerned I fyrst to lapen of the bloode.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. x. 44. Thyr sey monstreis [sal] lape thy blude thar hungeir to asswage.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. i. 288. Theyl take suggestion, as a Cat laps milke.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 799. They lap up their meat, what they eat.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 40, ¶ 9. He had the Cholick last Week with lapping sour Milk.
1735. Somerville, Chase, I. 155. Soon as the growling Pack Have lappd their smoaking Viands.
1813. Hogg, Queens Wake, 177. He baitit the lyon to diedis of weir, Quhill he lepit the blude to the kyngdome deire.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib (ed. 3), 21. Up he rose in a funk, lappd a toothful of brandy, And to it again.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., viii. II. 384. Some basons of water for washing were suffered to pass . The jurymen, raging with thirst, soon lapped up the whole.
1871. Rossetti, Poems, Eden Bower, xlix. The soul of one shall be made thy brother, And thy tongue shall lap the blood of the other.
† 3. To suck (a teat). Obs. rare1.
1562. Phaër, Æneid, VIII. C c j b. Their mammies teats thei lap wt hungrie lipps.
4. intr. Of water: To move with a rippling sound like that made in lapping. Also with in, up.
1823. Scott, Peveril, xxxvi. Flinty steps, against which the tide lapped fitfully with small successive waves.
1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, xxii. Youd think that the water was lapping in right among us.
1842. Tennyson, Morte DArthur, 116. I heard the water lapping on the crag.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, xxiii. 384. The sea lapped around the boat.
1887. Ruskin, Præterita, II. 152. The water lapping up, or lashing, under breeze, against the terrace wall.
5. trans. To beat upon (the shore, etc.) with a lapping sound.
1854. Mrs. Gaskell, North & S., vii. The distant sea, lapping the sandy shore with measured sound.
1874. Longf., Cadenabbia, iv. I hear the water lapping the steps beneath my feet.
1883. Ellen H. Rollins (E. H. Arr), New Eng. Bygones, 59. Where was a rotting old boat, which the waves lapped lazily.