# Nappie = Diaper, in UK? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2007, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709 "2007-01-27T12:26:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/1 "2007-01-27T12:26:24Z")
In American English “babytalk”, one may say they are putting the baby down for a nappie. I have come to understand that, in England for one, a nappie is a diaper! Is this true? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/2 "2007-01-27T12:41:21Z")
Yes, it’s true. But we spell it nappy. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/3 "2007-01-27T12:46:13Z")
And a brief doze is a “nap”. ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/4 "2007-01-27T14:59:32Z")
Sorry to hijack slightly, but what’s the meaning of “nappy” (or “nappie”) in Stevie Wonder’s song _I Wish_? [QUOTE=Stevie Wonder] Looking back on When I was a little nappy-headed boy [/QUOTE] My guess is that it’s related to tousled hair (as in the “nap” of a carpet), but as a Brit, you can imagine my confusion at first - a kid with a diaper on his head? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/5 "2007-01-27T15:20:52Z")
[QUOTE=Barrington] Sorry to hijack slightly, but what’s the meaning of “nappy” (or “nappie”) in Stevie Wonder’s song _I Wish_? My guess is that it’s related to tousled hair (as in the “nap” of a carpet), but as a Brit, you can imagine my confusion at first - a kid with a diaper on his head? 😕 [/QUOTE] “nappy” hair (sometimes spelled “knappy”) is an term from 1950 (which I think is considered derogatory these days if it’s said by a white person, but not a black person) to describe the very curly black-descended-from-Africa hair in its natural state. It’s from “nap” as in, the soft surface of a piece of cloth. Many people use relaxers and styling product to avoid having “nappy hair”. Children, especially boys, are generally let alone to have nappy hair. [cite](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=nappy) [A Nappy Hair Affair](http://www.nappyhairaffair.com/) [Nappturally](http://www.nappturality.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/6 "2007-01-27T15:21:19Z")
[QUOTE=Barrington] My guess is that it’s related to tousled hair (as in the “nap” of a carpet), but as a Brit, you can imagine my confusion at first - a kid with a diaper on his head? 😕 [/QUOTE] Not exactly. Another meaning of “nappy,” particularly in reference to hair, is “kinky.” It’s in fairly common informal use as a descriptive of black people’s hair in the US. As has been said, it can be perceived as derogatory in some contexts. The use of “nappy” to refer to a diaper is derived from “napkin,” which can also mean diaper. This caused me some confusion when I lived in NZ, where the things you wipe your mouth on at the dinner table are called “serviettes.” When I asked for a napkin in a reastaurant, I would sometimes get blank looks, since the waiter didn’t understand why I would want a diaper at the dinner table. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/7 "2007-01-27T16:57:59Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] This caused me some confusion when I lived in NZ, where the things you wipe your mouth on at the dinner table are called “serviettes.” When I asked for a napkin in a reastaurant, I would sometimes get blank looks, since the waiter didn’t understand why I would want a diaper at the dinner table. [/QUOTE] Colibri: May I have a napkin, please? Waiter: Depends? Colibri: Depends on what? 😕 Others at table: \ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/8 "2007-01-27T17:07:22Z")
Yeah, and then there was the time this sweet little old lady who was the departmental secreatary asked me if I knew where to find rubbers if I needed them . . . ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/9 "2007-01-27T20:26:58Z")
Thanks for the clarification on the hair definition of “nappy”. I get it now. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/10 "2007-01-27T23:54:35Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] “nappy” hair (sometimes spelled “knappy”) is an term from 1950 (which I think is considered derogatory these days if it’s said by a white person, but not a black person) to describe the very curly black-descended-from-Africa hair in its natural state. It’s from “nap” as in, the soft surface of a piece of cloth. Many people use relaxers and styling product to avoid having “nappy hair”. Children, especially boys, are generally let alone to have nappy hair. [/QUOTE] Well, there’s processed/straightened hair, “natural” (not chemically-processed) hair, and then nappy hair, which can refer to natural hair that hasn’t been styled. For example, a boy with a short hair or Afro which hasn’t been combed or picked could be referred to that since it hasn’t been styled and looks unkempt. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/11 "2007-01-28T00:23:45Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] Yeah, and then there was the time this sweet little old lady who was the departmental secreatary asked me if I knew where to find rubbers if I needed them . . . [/QUOTE] So called because you use them to ‘rub’ out a mistake. (rubbers are what NZ calls erasers, folks) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/12 "2007-01-28T00:39:40Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] So called because you use them to ‘rub’ out a mistake. (rubbers are what NZ calls erasers, folks) [/QUOTE] From Etymonline: _“Very useful for erasing the strokes of black lead pencils, and is popularly called rubber, and lead-eater.” [entry for Caoutchouc in, Howard, “New Royal Encyclopedia,” 1788]_ I really really like _ **‘lead-eater’** _ ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/13 "2007-01-28T00:46:00Z")
There’s a children’s picture book called [_Nappy Hair_](http://www.amazon.com/Nappy-Dragonfly-Books-Carolivia-Herron/dp/0679894454/sr=1-1/qid=1169945018/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6137655-9354267?ie=UTF8&s=books). The summary paragraph is pretty descriptive. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/14 "2007-01-28T00:47:17Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] (rubbers are what NZ calls erasers, folks) [/QUOTE] Meant to say this, too: they only got it from the correct speakers of the language 😃 ---
**Author:** ![nolonger\_lurking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/41988e/32.png) [@nolonger\_lurking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nolonger_lurking)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/15 "2007-01-28T01:32:01Z")
Although my vocabulary has been accurately described as anachronistic and many of my figures of speach went out of style in the 50s or earlier, I am American and would not have thought twice upon hearing or reading that someone was changing nappies. Maybe it is because my household used cloth diapers. (20 years ago) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/16 "2007-01-28T01:36:13Z")
[QUOTE=Jinx] In American English “babytalk”, one may say they are putting the baby down for a nappie. I have come to understand that, in England for one, a nappie is a diaper! Is this true? - Jinx [/QUOTE] Not quite. Nappy = daiper. ‘-y’, not ‘-ie’. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/17 "2007-01-28T01:45:12Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] So called because you use them to ‘rub’ out a mistake. (rubbers are what NZ calls erasers, folks) [/QUOTE] Whereas in the US rubbers (condoms) are used to _prevent_ mistakes. 😃 And then “fanny-pack” can have some radically different meanings . . . ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/18 "2007-01-28T05:21:26Z")
> [@](#): > > And then “fanny-pack” can have some radically different meanings . . . So as not to leave folks confused, in the US, “fanny” is a very mild term (as in, it’s the sort of thing one’s gramma might say) for the buttocks, male or female. And a “fanny pack” is a sort of pouch with an attached belt, worn over one’s fanny (or occasionally over a hip) and used to carry miscellaneous items. Meanwhile, on the east side of the Pond, “fanny” refers to the female genetalia, and I gather is considered rather crude (as are most non-clinical terms for genetalia, I suppose). ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/19 "2007-01-28T05:51:58Z")
I’ve never understood that, actually. Fanny was a girl’s name in England for a long time too, and as far as I can tell there were still girls nicknamed Fanny when people were using it as a crude euphemism. Surely the name should have fallen out of use as soon as that happened? I’m currently reading _Inventing the Victorians_, and during one bit about advertisements and personal ads, he tells about a naughty joke personal someone put in that was a correspondence between Fanny and Willie. So it’s been in use for quite a long time… ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709/20 "2007-01-28T08:22:00Z")
[QUOTE=dangermom] I’ve never understood that, actually. Fanny was a girl’s name in England for a long time too, and as far as I can tell there were still girls nicknamed Fanny when people were using it as a crude euphemism. Surely the name should have fallen out of use as soon as that happened? I’m currently reading _Inventing the Victorians_, and during one bit about advertisements and personal ads, he tells about a naughty joke personal someone put in that was a correspondence between Fanny and Willie. So it’s been in use for quite a long time… [/QUOTE] My Great-Great-Grandmother (born 1844) was called Fanny Innocent. Make of that as you will. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nappie-diaper-in-uk/389709.md?page=2)