Daps

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A casual term for a greeting involving a handshake or fist bump that often signifies camaraderie or mutual respect
2. Referring to a style of greeting where participants perform a series of quick hand movements or gestures to show friendliness
3. Describing a gesture of connection and acknowledgment between individuals, often characterized by playful and informal hand interactions

Etymology: The noun "daps" is simply the plural of "dap," and the most striking thing about "dap" is how little anyone is sure of its origin. One leading idea is that it imitates a sound, from the noise made when a person runs while wearing daps, the old canvas-and-rubber athletic shoes. Its verb form, "give dap," may have sounded out a light tap or dab, or grown out of an older slang abbreviation of "dapper," meaning neat and smartly dressed. The term appears in the United States in 1971, when it was used by Black soldiers during the Vietnam War and became linked to the Black Power movement. It began as an elaborate handshake and was later narrowed to mean specifically a fist bump. Some popular explanations treat "dap" as an acronym, such as "Dignity for Afro People" or "Dignity And Pride." These are most likely backronyms, invented after the fact, though they fit the phrase "give dap" in the way "give respect" does. A more speculative theory links it to the Vietnamese "đẹp," meaning "beautiful," but this is considered unlikely.

Synonyms: slaps, hits, taps, knocks, smacks