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pap¹

(păp)

n.
Archaic

1. A teat or nipple.

2. Something resembling a teat or nipple, such as a steep hill.

[Middle English pappe, probably from Latin papilla; see PAPILLA.]

pap²

(păp)

1. Soft or semiliquid food, as for infants.

2. Material lacking real value or substance: TV shows that offer nothing but pap.

3. Slang Money and favors obtained as political patronage: "self-seeking politicians primarily interested in patronage, privilege, and pap" (Fiorello H. La Guardia).

[Middle English, from Old French papa, from Latin, children's word for food.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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