Whap
/wæp/noun
To strike or hit with a sharp, audible blow; also, the sound of such a blow.
Did you know?“Whap” belongs to a family of expressive, sound-symbolic English formations whose meaning is suggested by the noise they imitate rather than inherited from an ancient root.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
whappen
“A dialectal or expressive form associated with striking or making a sharp impact.”
16th–17th Century
English
whap
“An expressive form for a blow or the sound produced by one.”
18th Century
English
whop
“A variant form meaning to strike heavily or with a resounding blow.”
19th Century
English
whap
“A colloquial verb and noun for hitting, spanking, or the noise of an impact.”
Modern English
English
whap
“An informal term for a sharp blow or its emphatic sound, often used like “whap!” in narration.”