First published 1921; not fully revised
† zappeverb
Factsheet
What does the verb zappe mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the verb zappe. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
This word is now obsolete. It is only recorded in the early 1600s.
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
Where does the verb zappe come from?
Earliest known use
early 1600s
The only known use of the verb zappe is in the early 1600s.
OED's only evidence for zappe is from around 1600, in the writing of J. Dymmok.
zappe is a variant or alteration of another lexical item.
Etymons: sap v.1
Nearby entries
- zap, v.1942–
- zap, int.1929–
- Zapata, n.1962–
- zapateado, n.1845–
- Zapatism, n.1911–
- Zapatismo, n.1913–
- Zapatist, n. & adj.1911–
- Zapatista, n. & adj.1911–
- zapote, n.1842–
- Zapotec, n. & adj.1797–
- zappe, v.c1600
- zapped, adj.1962–
- zapper, n.1969–
- zapping, n.1972–
- zappy, adj.1969–
- zaptieh, n.1869–
- ZAPU, n.1961–
- Zar, n.1868–
- Zarathustrian, adj. & n.1859–
- Zarathustrianism, n.1864–
- Zarathustric, adj.1848–
Etymology
Meaning & use
Obsolete.
- c1600= sap v.1
- c1600
When that rampart which is, shall either be beaten or zapped.
J. Dymmok, Treatise of Ireland (1842) 38
society armed hostility attack action or state of siege or blockade [transitive verbs] besiege or blockade approach by trenches- approach1598–Military. To make ‘approaches’ to; to work forward towards, by means of entrenchments. See approach, n. 9.
- zappec1600= sap, v.¹
- to trench at1744intransitive. To cast trenches, in siege works; in quot. 1623, to make one's way by trenching (figurative). to trench at: to lay siege to by means…