sap

sap¹

noun

1》 the fluid, chiefly water with dissolved sugars and mineral salts, circulating in the vascular system of a plant.

2》 vigour or energy.

verb (saps, sapping, sapped) gradually weaken (a person's strength or power).

↘(sap someone of) drain someone of (strength or power).

Derivatives

sapless adjective

Origin

OE sæp, prob. of Gmc origin; the verb is derived orig. from the verb sap², in the sense 'undermine'.

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sap²

noun historical a tunnel or trench to conceal an assailant's approach to a fortified place.

verb (saps, sapping, sapped)

1》 historical dig a sap.

2》 archaic make insecure by removing the foundations.

3》 [often as noun sapping] Geography undercut by water or glacial action.

Origin

C16: from Fr. saper, from Ital. zappare, from zappa 'spade, spadework', prob. from Arab. sarab 'underground passage', or sabora 'probe a wound, explore'.

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sap³

noun informal, chiefly N. Amer. a foolish person.

Origin

C19: abbrev. of dialect sapskull 'person with a head like sapwood'.

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sap⁴ US

informal, dated

noun a bludgeon or club.

verb (saps, sapping, sapped) hit with a sap.

Origin

C19: abbrev. of sapling.