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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Nap-of-the-earth flight, or ...
nape of the earth, or nap of the earth?
I was next-to-positive that "nape" was always the word, so I was startled when Google showed me that "nap" is far more frequent on the Web, about 6000 to 300. "Nap" was also more frequent in groups, by a smaller margin.
The origin has been asked about in a couple of groups, but not with much success, and not in a.u.e. Memories seem to date it to the 1960s.
"Nap" seems to me to be a candidate for the set of idioms that are correct by virtue of repetition, but I'm curious about the evolution, whatever it was.
Rich Ulrich, (Email Removed)
http://www.pitt.edu/~wpilib/index.html
I was next-to-positive that "nape" was always the word, so I was startled when Google showed me that "nap" is far more frequent on the Web, about 6000 to 300. "Nap" was also more frequent in groups, by a smaller margin.
The origin has been asked about in a couple of groups, but not with much success, and not in a.u.e. Memories seem to date it to the 1960s.
"Nap" seems to me to be a candidate for the set of idioms that are correct by virtue of repetition, but I'm curious about the evolution, whatever it was.
Rich Ulrich, (Email Removed)
http://www.pitt.edu/~wpilib/index.html
Top answer
[nq:1]nape of the earth, or nap of the earth? I was next-to-positive that "nape" was always the word,[/nq] Say what? 'Nape' is the back of your neck.
- [nq:1]nape of the earth, or nap of the earth?
- I was next-to-positive that "nape" was always the word,[/nq] Say what?
- 'Nape' is the back of your neck.
- 'Nap' is the short fuzzy ends of fibers on the surface of cloth, drawn up in napping.
- To fly close to the nap-of-the-earth is to fly as close to the ground as you can safely get.
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31 Answers
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[nq:1]nape of the earth, or nap of the earth? I was next-to-positive that "nape" was always the word,[/nq]
Say what? 'Nape' is the back of your neck.
'Nap' is the short fuzzy ends of fibers on the surface of cloth, drawn up in napping. To fly close to the nap-of-the-earth is to fly as close to the ground as you can safely get. The allusion is obvious. You're flying close to the fuzzy stuff
Say what? 'Nape' is the back of your neck.
'Nap' is the short fuzzy ends of fibers on the surface of cloth, drawn up in napping. To fly close to the nap-of-the-earth is to fly as close to the ground as you can safely get. The allusion is obvious. You're flying close to the fuzzy stuff
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[nq:1]nape of the earth, or nap of the earth? I was next-to-positive that "nape" was always the word, so I ... the set of idioms that are correct by virtue of repetition, but I'm curious about the evolution, whatever it was.[/nq]
http://www.word-detective.com/122002.html
Mike
http://www.word-detective.com/122002.html
Mike
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[nq:2]nape of the earth, or nap of the earth? I ... repetition, but I'm curious about the evolution, whatever it was.[/nq]
[nq:1]http://www.word-detective.com/122002.html[/nq]
Thanks. Yes, I saw that one. It describes "nap of the earth" as relating to the nap of carpets, and dates it to Viet Nam, with o
[nq:1]http://www.word-detective.com/122002.html[/nq]
Thanks. Yes, I saw that one. It describes "nap of the earth" as relating to the nap of carpets, and dates it to Viet Nam, with o
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[nq:1]nape of the earth, or nap of the earth? I was next-to-positive that "nape" was always the word, so I ... the set of idioms that are correct by virtue of repetition, but I'm curious about the evolution, whatever it was.[/nq]
That's the first I've heard of that idiom.
Who uses it, and what's it supposed to mean?
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
That's the first I've heard of that idiom.
Who uses it, and what's it supposed to mean?
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
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[nq:2]nape of the earth, or nap of the earth? I ... repetition, but I'm curious about the evolution, whatever it was.[/nq]
[nq:1]That's the first I've heard of that idiom. Who uses it, and what's it supposed to mean?[/nq]"nap" has been around for centuries, meaning the short projection of fibres sticking up (usually almost imperceptibly) from a cloth of some kind. Best known to those of us who
[nq:1]That's the first I've heard of that idiom. Who uses it, and what's it supposed to mean?[/nq]"nap" has been around for centuries, meaning the short projection of fibres sticking up (usually almost imperceptibly) from a cloth of some kind. Best known to those of us who
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[nq:2]That's the first I've heard of that idiom. Who uses it, and what's it supposed to mean?[/nq]
[nq:1]"nap" has been around for centuries, meaning the short projection of fibres sticking up (usually almost imperceptibly) from a cloth ... protuberances. For those who espouse the "nape" theory, I would ask "In what sense does the earth have a nape?"[/nq]
The earth has a nape in the sense
[nq:1]"nap" has been around for centuries, meaning the short projection of fibres sticking up (usually almost imperceptibly) from a cloth ... protuberances. For those who espouse the "nape" theory, I would ask "In what sense does the earth have a nape?"[/nq]
The earth has a nape in the sense
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Richard Ulrich filted:
[nq:1]The nap of carpet still evokes, for me, "bumps and protruberances" that are too trivial, by far. No one traverses a carpet with care for the nap.[/nq]
One might, if one is a manx kitten with untrimmed supernumerary claws (former girlfriend's sister's roommate's pet), or Scooter (pet cockatiel of one of my neighbors circa 1986, who had a tendency to snag a talon
[nq:1]The nap of carpet still evokes, for me, "bumps and protruberances" that are too trivial, by far. No one traverses a carpet with care for the nap.[/nq]
One might, if one is a manx kitten with untrimmed supernumerary claws (former girlfriend's sister's roommate's pet), or Scooter (pet cockatiel of one of my neighbors circa 1986, who had a tendency to snag a talon
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[nq:2]That's the first I've heard of that idiom. Who uses it, and what's it supposed to mean?[/nq]
[nq:1]"nap" has been around for centuries, meaning the short projection of fibres sticking up (usually almost imperceptibly) from a cloth ... protuberances. For those who espouse the "nape" theory, I would ask "In what sense does the earth have a nape?"[/nq]
Thanks - I kneww about the nap of
[nq:1]"nap" has been around for centuries, meaning the short projection of fibres sticking up (usually almost imperceptibly) from a cloth ... protuberances. For those who espouse the "nape" theory, I would ask "In what sense does the earth have a nape?"[/nq]
Thanks - I kneww about the nap of
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[nq:1]Not that I'd trust such an electronic device what doe it do if you're approaching a 3000ft cliff?[/nq]
It looks forward as well as down.
It looks forward as well as down.
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[nq:2]"nap" has been around for centuries, meaning the short projection ... ask "In what sense does the earth have a nape?"[/nq]
[nq:1]Thanks - I kneww about the nap of cloth (a towel is an obvious crude example, and some have thought ... "tree-topping". Not that I'd trust such an electronic device what doe it do if you're approaching a 3000ft cliff?[/nq]
Ideally it spots it in sufficient
[nq:1]Thanks - I kneww about the nap of cloth (a towel is an obvious crude example, and some have thought ... "tree-topping". Not that I'd trust such an electronic device what doe it do if you're approaching a 3000ft cliff?[/nq]
Ideally it spots it in sufficient
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