subs. (old).—Strong ale: also NAPPING-GEAR. Hence as adj. (1) strong or heady; and (2) drunk.

1

  1593.  G. HARVEY, Pierce’s Supererogation [GROSART, Works, II., 51]. The nippitaty of the NAPPIEST grape; that infinitly surpasseth all the Inuention and Elocution in the world.

2

  1593.  G. HARVEY, New Letter, Notable Contents [GROSART, Works, i., 283]. The very steame of the NAPPY liquor will lullaby thy fine wittes.

3

  1595.  Locrine, ii. 2. Trom. The can stands full of NAPPY ALE.

4

  c. 1600.  My Wife Will Be My Master [COLLIER, Roxburghe Ballads (1847), 87].

        With a cup of NAPPY ALE and spice,
    of which she is first taster.

5

  1602.  J. COOKE, How a Man may Choose a Good Wife from a Bad, iii., 3 [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, ix., 64].

        And from the pond and river clear
Mak’st NAPPY ale and good March beer.

6

  c. 1630.  MARTIN PARKER, Harry White, his Humour.

        M. P. wisheth happy,
Successe and ale NAPPY,
That with the one’s paine
He the other may gaine.

7

  1662.  Rump Songs, ii., 59.

        The Body being Eaten, we strive for the Tayl,
Each man with his Kan’kn of NAPPY brown Ale,
  Doth box it about for the R U M P.

8

  1662.  J. WILSON, The Cheats, i. 5. Sc. This is NAPPING Geer and well encourag’d:—But pray no more of this Bowle.

9

  c. 1685.  The King and Miller of Mansfield. NAPPY ale, good and stale, in a browne bowle.

10

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. NAPPY ALE. Very strong, heady.

11

  17[?].  Old Ballad, Patie’s Wedding [HERD, ii., 191].

        The auld wives sat and they chew’d,
  And when that the carles grew NAPPY,
They danc’d as weel as they dow’d,
  Wi’ a crack o’ their thumbs and a kappie.

12

  1714.  GAY, The Shepherd’s Week. Tues., l. 55.

        In misling days, when I my thresher heard,
With NAPPY beer I to the barn repair’d.

13

  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

14

  d. 1796.  BURNS, The Twa Dogs, 18.

          An’ whyles twa’pennie worth o’ NAPPY
Can make the bodies unco happy.
    Ibid., (1791), Tam o’ Shanter.
While we sit bousing at the NAPPY.

15

  1867.  LATHAM, Dictionary, s.v. NAPPY. Old epithet applied to ale: (this is the entry in the previous editions, and the present editor is unable to give greater definitude to it.)

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