The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #100788 Message #2026302
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
15-Apr-07 - 07:39 PM
Thread Name: BS: 'nappy headed hos' what does it mean?
Subject: RE: BS: 'nappy headed hos' what does it mean?
Very old, simple words such as nappy always seem to gather several meanings. Terrier's nappy headed horse is one of many well-known uses of the word. It is applied to people as well.
In Scotland and the north of England, a nappy is a drink, e. g. ale. The adjective means foaming.
In turn that usage comes from a very old word for bowl (which persists in the small bowls for individual servings of fruit, etc.: fruit nappies).
Look in the OED and there are others.