Diaper Was a Fabric Pattern Before It Was a Nappy
A diaper is an American nappy. The word originally named a diamond-patterned cloth, and the pattern survives in heraldry.
A diaper is an absorbent garment for a baby, the American word for a nappy. Its first meaning was textile: *diaper* named a linen woven in a small repeating diamond pattern. Because such cloth was used for infants, the name transferred to the garment in America, while Britain took *nappy* from *napkin*.
- A baby's absorbent garment (American). *Change the diaper.*
- A diamond-patterned fabric. *Diaper linen.*
- A repeating pattern. *Diaper work in the brickwork.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | diaper | A clean diaper. |
| Plural | diapers | A pack of diapers. |
| British | nappy | A wet nappy. |
| Adjective | diapered | Diapered brickwork. |
| Related | napkin | A linen napkin. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Americans say diaper, Britons say nappy.Same object.
- Diaper work decorates the wall.Architecture: a diamond pattern in brick.
- Nappy is short for napkin.British etymology.
British and American baby words
- nappy / diaper — the absorbent garment
- pram / stroller — the wheeled carriage
- cot / crib — the bed
- dummy / pacifier — the soother
- babygrow / onesie — the all-in-one garment
From Old French *diaspre*, from Medieval Latin *diasprum*, probably from Greek *diaspros*, pure white. The pattern sense came first.
Diaper or nappy?
Diaper is American, nappy British and Australian. Nappy is a shortening of napkin.
What is diaper work in architecture?
A decorative diamond or lozenge pattern, often created in brickwork with contrasting bricks.