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Sapping - 4 dictionary results

sap

1  [sap] noun, verb, sapped, sap⋅ping.
Use Sapping in a Sentence
–noun
1. the juice or vital circulating fluid of a plant, esp. of a woody plant.
2. any vital body fluid.
3. energy; vitality.
4. sapwood.
5. Slang. a fool; dupe.
6. Metallurgy. soft metal at the core of a bar of blister steel.
–verb (used with object)
7. to drain the sap from.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE sæp; c. D sap; akin to G Saft juice, ON safi; in def. 5 a shortening of saphead

sap

2  [sap] noun, verb, sapped, sap⋅ping.
–noun
1. Fortification. a deep, narrow trench constructed so as to form an approach to a besieged place or an enemy's position.
–verb (used with object)
2. Fortification.
a. to approach (a besieged place or an enemy position) by means of deep, narrow trenches protected by gabions or parapets.
b. to dig such trenches in (ground).
3. to undermine; weaken or destroy insidiously.
–verb (used without object)
4. Fortification. to dig a sap.
Origin:
1585–95; < F sape (n.), deriv. of saper to dig a trench < It zappare, a military term, based on zappa hoe (cf. dial. It zappo he-goat < ?)

Synonyms:
3. impair, enfeeble, deplete, exhaust, enervate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Sapping
sap 1   (sāp)   
n.  
    1. The watery fluid that circulates through a plant, carrying food and other substances to the various tissues.
    2. The fluid contents of a plant cell vacuole.
  2. An essential bodily fluid.
  3. Health and energy; vitality.
  4. Slang A gullible person; a dupe.
  5. A leather-covered hand weapon; a blackjack.
tr.v.   sapped, sap·ping, saps
  1. To drain of sap.
  2. To hit or knock out with a sap.

[Middle English, from Old English sæp.]
sap 2   (sāp)   
n.  A covered trench or tunnel dug to a point near or within an enemy position.
v.   sapped, sap·ping, saps

v.   tr.
  1. To undermine the foundations of (a fortification).
  2. To deplete or weaken gradually.
v.   intr.
To dig a sap.

[Obsolete French sappe or Italian zappa, hoe, from Old French and Old Italian, both from Late Latin sappa.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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