nightcap

noun

night·​cap ˈnīt-ˌkap 

1

: a cloth cap worn with nightclothes

2

: a usually alcoholic drink taken at the end of the day

3

: the final race or contest of a day's sports

especially : the second game of a baseball doubleheader

Examples of nightcap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For a quiet after-dinner coffee, dessert or nightcap, stop by 49 West. —Charles Babington, New York Times, 21 May 2025

Take a stroll along the malecon and grab dinner and drinks during the sunset, then have an after-dinner nightcap at the La Miserable Mezcaleria, a neighborhood mezcal bar. —Will McGough, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025

Down the hall, two spacious bedrooms offer ample flexibility, including one with a private south-facing balcony — perfect for morning coffee or a nightcap. —Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 8 May 2025

New guests arrived, some VIPs lingered for a nightcap, and others made their exit. —Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 4 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nightcap

• bandgap
• bitmap
• blackcap
• blackstrap
• bootstrap
• burlap
• claptrap
• entrap
• foolscap
• kidnap
• kneecap
• madcap

Kids Definition

nightcap

noun

night·​cap ˈnīt-ˌkap 

1

: a cap worn with nightclothes

2

: a drink taken at bedtime

3

: the final race or contest of a day's sports activities