PAP Meaning and
Definition
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Pap refers to a soft and usually mushy food substance that is often prepared for infants and young children. This type of food is typically made by blending or mashing various ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, or cereals until they reach a smooth and easily digestible consistency. Pap is commonly introduced as one of the first solid foods for babies transitioning from a liquid diet. It serves as a source of nutrition, aiding in the development and growth of infants who are still in the early stages of weaning.
Beyond its usage for feeding infants, pap can also be used in a broader context to describe any form of soft, thick, and often bland food. This can include food items such as porridge or cornmeal mush. Additionally, the term "pap" can be employed metaphorically to describe something lacking substance, flavor, or intellectual depth. For instance, it can refer to low-quality writing, art, or entertainment that is considered insipid or uninteresting.
In popular culture, the term "pap" has been used to critique the mainstream media for presenting shallow or sensationalized content that caters to the lowest common denominator. This implication of trivial and mindless information stems from the metaphorical meaning of the term, where "pap" denotes content lacking in substantive value or intellectual stimulation.
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A food of soft consistence, like that of breadcrumb soaked in milk or water.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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Soft food for infants, made of boiled bread sweetened; the pulp of fruit; a nipple or teat.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for PAP
Etymology of PAP
The word "pap" has multiple etymological origins and can be traced back to different sources:
1. Noun Meaning "Soft Food":
- Old English: The Old English term "papa" meant "soft food" or "mush". It was likely derived from the Latin word "pappa", meaning the same.
- Middle Low German: Another source could be the Middle Low German word "papp" or "pop", which also meant "soft food".
2. Noun Meaning "Breast":
- Middle English: In Middle English, "pap" was used to refer to a woman's breast or nipple. This usage may have influenced the later meaning of "pap" as a term for baby food.
Idioms with the word PAP
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give pap with a hatchet
To give pap with a hatchet means to give praise or compliments in a harsh or insincere manner. It refers to giving someone something pleasant in a way that is overly forceful or aggressive, making it seem insincere or fake.
Similar spelling words for PAP
- pappa,
- Pape,
- papa,
- papaya,
- pavao,
- pave,
- paba,
- PAPP,
- paff,
- pavy,
- pavo,
- papaia,
- papio,
- pavey,
- papaw,
- papua,
- paiva,
- pawpaw,
- pay up,
- Pavia.
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