Nightcap Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms nightcap American [nahyt-kap] / ˈnaɪtˌkæp /

noun

1. Informal. an alcoholic drink taken at bedtime or at the end of a festive evening.

2. a cap for the head, intended primarily to be worn in bed.

3. Sports Informal. the last event of the program for the day, especially the second game of a doubleheader in baseball or the last race of the day in horse racing.

nightcap British / ˈnaɪtˌkæp /

noun

1. a bedtime drink, esp an alcoholic or hot one

2. a soft cap formerly worn in bed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• nightcapped adjective

Etymology

Origin of nightcap

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; night, cap 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Showgirl’s” opening track has a sultry groove and low pulse that could easily be the soundtrack to a flirty nightcap or the series finale of a dark comedy.

From Los Angeles Times

Yoga as a nightcap I like to do a little yoga before bed.

From Los Angeles Times

From nightcaps on the royal train to discussions over the Coronation budget, here are some of the most eye-catching anecdotes in the book:

From BBC

So no matter what happens throughout the day, that’s going to be the nightcap.

From Los Angeles Times

The nightcap was a Black Sabbath reunion featuring guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward.

From Salon

Related Words

• sedative

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.