neap
/niːp
/noun
(also neap tide) A tide just after the first or third quarters of the moon when there is least difference between high and low water: neaps occur at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m....
- Pollack feed longer during smaller neap tides than they do through a big spring tide.
- The water is evened out all over the earth's oceans, producing neap tides.
- You need to pick the very smallest neap tides to fish these wrecks.
verb (be neaped)
(Of a boat) be kept aground or in harbour by a neap tide: a change of wind could leave you neaped...
- She had arrived fully laden one Friday and because of her deep draft was neaped until Monday morning.
- Ibis was neaped on the old slipway at Morwellham Quay, and covered over.
- This voyage made more history than money as on the way down the vessel was neaped, waiting for water near Guyhurn Bridge for almost 2 weeks.
Origin
Late Middle English, originally an adjective from Old English nēp, first element of nēpflōd 'neap flood', of unknown origin.