Lapp
/lap
/noun
1A member of an indigenous people of the extreme north of Scandinavia, traditionally associated with the herding of reindeer.The Finns arrived in their present territory thousands of years ago, pushing the indigenous Lapps into the more remote northern regions....
- Was this the result of ‘transhumance’ societies akin to the Lapps following reindeer into the northern tundra?
- She goes on to explain what a resource the reindeer is for the Lapps; how they eat everything but the skin and antlers, which of course have other uses.
2 [mass noun] The Finno-Ugric language of the Lapps, with nine distinct dialects spoken by around 25,000 people altogether.
adjective
Relating to the Lapps or their language.While water from the taps in Finland runs clear and cold, we discovered that lungfuls of Lapp air are an even better tonic....
- My guess was that it was a traditional Lapp coat.
- Through persistence and ingenuity Wille is able to free himself from his captivity and then finds shelter with Anni, a young, sturdy and independent Lapp peasant.
Usage
Although the term Lapp is still widely used and is the most familiar term to many people, the people themselves prefer to be called Sami.
Origin
Swedish, perhaps originally a term of contempt and related to Middle High German lappe 'simpleton'.