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

An alcoholic drink taken shortly before going to bed.

"He liked a small whisky as a nightcap."

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 notes

In plain EnglishEither a bedtime drink or, in older usage, a cloth cap worn to bed.

Common pairings

have a nightcap a whisky nightcap

Word forms

nightcapped past tense, nightcaps plural, nightcaps singular

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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.