- a bedtime drink, esp an alcoholic or hot one
- a soft cap formerly worn in bed
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
night•cap /ˈnaɪtˌkæp/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Informal Termsan alcoholic drink taken at the end of the day.
- Clothinga cap for the head, intended to be worn in bed.
- Informal Termsthe last of a day's sports events, esp. the second game of a doubleheader in baseball.
night•cap
(nīt′kap′),USA pronunciation n.
night′capped′, adj.
- Informal Termsan alcoholic drink taken at bedtime or at the end of a festive evening.
- Clothinga cap for the head, intended primarily to be worn in bed.
- Informal Terms[Sports Informal.]the last event of the program for the day, esp. the second game of a doubleheader in baseball or the last race of the day in horse racing.
- 1350–1400; Middle English; see night, cap1
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
nightcap /ˈnaɪtˌkæp/ n
'nightcap' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):