Nap vs Slumber - What's the difference?

As nouns the difference between nap and slumber

is that nap is a short period of sleep, especially one during the day while slumber is a very light state of sleep, almost awake.

As verbs the difference between nap and slumber

is that nap is to have a nap; to sleep for a short period of time, especially during the day while slumber is to be in a very light state of sleep, almost awake.

nap

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) nappen, from (etyl) ).

Noun

(en noun)

A short period of sleep, especially one during the day

Synonyms

* See also

Derived terms

* catnap * dirt nap

Verb

(napp)

to have a nap; to sleep for a short period of time, especially during the day

to be off one's guard

* Hudibras

I took thee napping , unprepared.

The regulators were caught napping by the financial collapse.

Derived terms

* catch napping

Synonyms

* snooze * doze

Etymology 2

From (etyl) , from (etyl)

Noun

(-)

A soft or fuzzy surface on fabric or leather.

* 1591 , , by William Shakespeare

I tell thee, Jack Cade the clothier means to dress the commonwealth, and turn it, and set a new nap upon it.

*1851 ,

On his long, gaunt body, he carried no spare flesh, no superfluous beard, his chin having a soft, economical nap' to it, like the worn ' nap of his broad-brimmed hat.

* 1939 , (Raymond Chandler), The Big Sleep , Penguin 2011, p. 37:

There were low bookshelves, there was a thick pinkish Chinese rug in which a gopher could have spent a week without showing his nose above the nap .

Verb

(napp)

to form or raise a soft or fuzzy surface on (fabric or leather)

Etymology 3

* From the name of the French emperor Napoleon I of France (Bonaparte)

Noun

(en noun)

(British) A type of bet in British horse racing, based on the experts' best tips

(uncountable, games) A card game in which players take tricks; properly (Napoleon)

Derived terms

* go nap

Etymology 4

possibly Scandanavian, cognate with nab, see Swedish

Verb

(napp)

(obsolete) to grab; to nab

Derived terms

* kidnap

Etymology 5

From (etyl) napper, from .

Verb

(napp)

(cooking) To cover (something) with a sauce (usually in passive)

* 2006 , Wayne Gisslen, Mary Ellen Griffin, Professional Cooking for Canadian Chefs? :

Vanilla ice cream topped with a poached or canned pear half, napped with chocolate sauce, and garnished with toasted sliced almonds.

Anagrams

* * * English terms with multiple etymologies ----

slumber

English

(wikipedia slumber)

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)

A very light state of sleep, almost awake.

He at last fell into a slumber , and thence into a fast sleep, which detained him in that place until it was almost night. — Bunyan.

Fast asleep? It is no matter; / Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber . — Shakespeare.

Rest to my soul, and slumber to my eyes. — Dryden.

Derived terms

* (l)

Verb

(en verb)

To be in a very light state of sleep, almost awake.

* Bible, Psalms cxxi. 4

He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

To be inactive or negligent.

(obsolete) To lay to sleep.

(Wotton)

(obsolete) To stun; to stupefy.

(Spenser)