nightcap

/ˈnaɪtˌkæp/

//ˈnaɪtˌkæp// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"nightcap" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“nightcap” is uncommon English (frequency #59,575 among 1,534 “N” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#59,575
frequency rank, English
1,534
“N” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A warm cloth cap worn while sleeping, often with pajamas, being common attire in northern Europe before effective home heating became widespread.

Corpus desk

Index EN-nightcap · nightcap · English

nightcap · rank #59,575 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #59,575
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 1,534
  • PHOTO-FINISH nighty

Nearest frequency peer: nighty (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “nightcap”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “nightcap” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for nightcap
PropertyValue
Headwordnightcap
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈnaɪtˌkæp/
Letters8
Frequency rank#59,575
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “nightcap” in English

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).nightcapfalls in this rarity band:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Rare peers in the same band: “nighty” (#59,576), “Naveen” (#59,573), “nanotube” (#59,572). Among 1,534 “N” headwords, “nightcap” is #59,575. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

nightcap is uncommon English at frequency #59,575 among 1,534 “N” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈnaɪtˌkæp/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for nightcap, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From night + cap. The correct English form is nightcap, spelled N-I-G-H-T-C-A-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    A warm cloth cap worn while sleeping, often with pajamas, being common attire in northern Europe before effective home heating became widespread.
  2. 2
    A beverage drunk before bed that is usually alcoholic.
  3. 3
    Something that a person reads or listens to before bed.
  4. 4
    The final match of a sporting contest, especially the second game of a baseball doubleheader.
  5. 5
    A cap drawn over the face of the condemned person before they are hanged.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how nightcap appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Winston wore a nightcap to stave off the cold.
  2. I'll make myself a nightcap of whisky and lemon before heading to bed.

Etymology

From night + cap.

This word in other languages

bonnet de nuit(Français)Schlafmütze(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "nightcap"?
"nightcap" is spelled N-I-G-H-T-C-A-P. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈnaɪtˌkæp/.
What does "nightcap" mean?
As a noun, "nightcap" means: A warm cloth cap worn while sleeping, often with pajamas, being common attire in northern Europe before effective home heating became widespread.
How do you pronounce "nightcap"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "nightcap" is /ˈnaɪtˌkæp/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "nightcap"?
From night + cap. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "nightcap", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 8 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

nanotube#59,572Mulroney#59,565Oxbridge#59,600melamine#59,545

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list