Lapp

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A small piece or scrap of material, often fabric, used for patching or cleaning; a rough or ragged fragment torn from a larger item; a simple act of enveloping or covering something lightly
2. A tiny portion or snippet of cloth typically employed for mending or wiping; a torn or uneven section separated from a whole; the motion of gently wrapping or surrounding an object
3. A patch or bit of textile commonly used for repair or cleansing purposes; an irregular or jagged piece separated by tearing; the action of loosely folding or enclosing around something

Etymology: The English noun "lapp" is a borrowing from Swedish "lapp", meaning a patch or scrap, and the Swedish word is possibly of Finnish origin. That possible link runs through "Lappi", the Finnish name for Lapland, the northern region that the Swedish word's source may be tied to, though the connection is uncertain and the word's exact path into Swedish is not settled. The sense of a patch or scrap of cloth used for mending or wiping came with the word into English. A "lapp" is a small piece set over a hole or tear, or a rag used to wipe something clean. The verb is the same word in action: to lap or wrap something around an object, or to mend by setting a patch over it, so the idea of enclosing or covering something carries through both the noun and the verb.

Synonyms: lap, flap