noun
nightcap
NYT-kap
Nightcap (noun) means an alcoholic drink taken shortly before going to bed. Example: “He liked a small whisky as a nightcap.”
noun
1
An alcoholic drink taken shortly before going to bed.
"You know the other night, when I had dinner with Afro-Dite? When Jo was in San Francisco? Well we dropped into the Sinners, right, just for a nightcap."
— Andrea F. Loewenstein, Random Lust (1980)
"This week I took up the relatively simple challenge of buying breakfast, lunch and dinner—and a nightcap—exclusively from konbini, as well as completing a couple of admin tasks."
— Justin McCurry, Coffee, sandwiches, underwear, beer: a day in the life of Japan’s beloved konbini stores (2024)
"He liked a small whisky as a nightcap."
"I'll make myself a nightcap of whisky and lemon before heading to bed."
2
Historically, a soft cap worn in bed to keep the head warm.
"In old illustrations, characters are often shown wearing a tasselled nightcap."
How to use nightcap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a bedtime drink or, in older usage, a cloth cap worn to bed.
Common pairings
have a nightcap
a whisky nightcap
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Word forms
- Plural
- nightcaps
- Third person singular
- nightcaps
- Past tense
- nightcapped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He liked a small whisky as a _____.
Etymology
From night + cap — originally the literal sleeping cap, with the "bedtime drink" sense developing later by association.
Frequently asked questions
What does “nightcap” mean?
The word “nightcap” means an alcoholic drink taken shortly before going to bed. In plain terms, either a bedtime drink or, in older usage, a cloth cap worn to bed.
How do you pronounce “nightcap”?
“Nightcap” is pronounced NYT-kap (/ˈnaɪtˌkæp/ in IPA).
How do you use “nightcap” in a sentence?
Here is “nightcap” used in a sentence: “He liked a small whisky as a nightcap.”
What part of speech is “nightcap”?
“Nightcap” is a noun.
How many meanings does “nightcap” have?
“Nightcap” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an alcoholic drink taken shortly before going to bed.
