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Yap

(yăp, yäp)

An island group and state of the Federated States of Micronesia in the western Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Part of a Japanese mandate after 1920, it fell to US forces in 1945. Yap is noted for the large stone disks traditionally used as money by the native population.

yap

(yăp)

v. yapped, yap·ping, yaps

v.intr.

1. To bark sharply or shrilly; yelp.

2. Slang To talk noisily or stupidly; jabber.

v.tr.

To utter by yapping.

1. A sharp, shrill bark; a yelp.

2. Slang Noisy, stupid talk; jabber.

3. Slang The mouth: Shut your yap.

4. Slang A stupid, crude, or loud person.

[Probably imitative.]

yapper n.

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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