nappe

noun

1
2
: a large mass of rock thrust over other rocks
3
: one of the two sheets that lie on opposite sides of the vertex and together make up a cone

Word History

Etymology

French, tablecloth, sheet, nappe, from Old French nape — more at napkin

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nappe was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near nappe

Cite this Entry

“Nappe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nappe. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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