1861. Chambers’ Journal, xvi. 333. They had gone fourteen laps (as
these circuits are called).
1884. Daily Telegraph, 27 Nov. Added seven miles and eight laps to
their score.
1885. Daily News, 1 Sept. 2. 5. At half-distance the positions
remained unaltered, and, as they began the last lap, it appeared to
be any one’s race.
Verb. (common).—1. To drink. Also, to go on the lap.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 21. Up he rose in a fuuk, lapp’d a
toothful of brandy.
1869. W. Bradwood, The O. V. H. xix. As the latter lapped his third
go of cold gin at the bar of the Greyhound.
1886. Punch, 25 Sept. p. 145. Grinds ’ard, never goes on the lap,
Reads Shakspeare instead o’ the Pink ’Un.
1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, 62. I lap lemon-squash.
2. (athletes’).—In running a race in laps, to overtake: as, to be one
or more laps ahead.