hap

Everyday

1. (old) Luck or chance, especially something that happens by chance. tree →
2. (old) An event that happens; «haps» means things that happen. tree →
3. (Scotland, northern England, dialect) To wrap up warmly; a «hap» is a warm shawl or blanket. tree →

In the lessons

In modern English «hap» is rarely used alone, but it is the root of common words: happen, happy, perhaps, mishap, haphazard, hapless. In old stories and the Bible-era English it means luck. In slang, «what's the haps?» (US) means «what's happening?». Phrases: by hap, what's the haps.

Examples

• In old stories, «by hap» means «by chance». tree →
• «Happen» and «perhaps» both come from «hap». tree →
• A «mishap» is a small accident, a bit of bad hap. tree →
• Granny in Shetland happed the baby in a woolly shawl. tree →
• «What's the haps?» my cousin from California asked. tree →
• "What better hap could I look for, fool that I am!" tree →

Note

Old and dialect word; do not use in school essays except when explaining word roots. Word family: happen, happy, perhaps, mishap, haphazard (by chance, without a plan), hapless (unlucky). Not to be confused with «hip» or «hop».

In Jewish tradition

Ruth's "hap" was to come to Boaz's field, as if by chance.

Interpretation. Tradition reads this seeming chance as God's quiet guidance leading Ruth to Boaz.

Examples

• And she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. (Writings RUT.2.3, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Old and dialect word; do not use in school essays except when explaining word roots. Word family: happen, happy, perhaps, mishap, haphazard (by chance, without a plan), hapless (unlucky). Not to be confused with «hip» or «hop».