Standard Lemma guide

nightcap

name · noun · verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈnaɪtˌkæp/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

name

Meaning 1

A locality in the Byron council area and the Lismore council area, north-eastern New South Wales, Australia.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A warm cloth cap worn while sleeping, often with pajamas, being common attire in northern Europe before effective home heating became widespread.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, clothing, fashion, lifestyle, manufacturing, textiles

Examples

  • Winston wore a nightcap to stave off the cold.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A beverage drunk before bed that is usually alcoholic.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I'll make myself a nightcap of whisky and lemon before heading to bed.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Something that a person reads or listens to before bed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The final match of a sporting contest, especially the second game of a baseball doubleheader.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

Topics: ball-games, baseball, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A cap drawn over the face of the condemned person before they are hanged.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To drink an alcoholic beverage shortly before retiring to bed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

the final game of a double header

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: game

9

noun

Meaning 9

a cloth cap worn in bed

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cap

10

noun

Meaning 10

an alcoholic drink taken at bedtime; often alcoholic

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: drink

History

Etymology

From night + cap.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 睡帽 (shuìmào) — warm cap worn at night
  • Dutch: slaapmuts — warm cap worn at night
  • Finnish: yömyssy — warm cap worn at night
  • French: bonnet de nuit — warm cap worn at night
  • Galician: gorro de dormir — warm cap worn at night
  • German: Schlafmütze — warm cap worn at night
  • Greek: νυχτικός σκούφος (nychtikós skoúfos) — warm cap worn at night
  • Hungarian: hálósapka — warm cap worn at night
  • Hungarian: hálósipka — warm cap worn at night
  • Italian: berretto frigio — warm cap worn at night
  • Italian: berretto da notte — warm cap worn at night
  • Italian: papalina — warm cap worn at night
  • Macedonian: капа за спиење (kapa za spienje) — warm cap worn at night
  • Polish: szlafmyca — warm cap worn at night
  • Portuguese: touca de dormir — warm cap worn at night
  • Portuguese: barrete de dormir — warm cap worn at night
  • Portuguese: gorro de dormir — warm cap worn at night
  • Russian: ночно́й колпа́к (nočnój kolpák) — warm cap worn at night
  • Russian: колпа́к (kolpák) — warm cap worn at night
  • Serbo-Croatian: noćna kapica — warm cap worn at night
  • Spanish: gorro de dormir — warm cap worn at night
  • Swedish: nattmössa — warm cap worn at night
  • Volapük: slipabonät — warm cap worn at night
  • Dutch: slaapmutsje — beverage
  • Finnish: yömyssy — beverage
  • German: Absacker — beverage
  • German: Schlummertrunk — beverage
  • Japanese: 寝酒 (nezake) — beverage
  • Swedish: sängfösare — beverage