pap

v. (of paparazzi or a press photographer) to take a photograph (of someone or something). Subjects: English, United Kingdom, Media, Slang

Editorial Note: As pointed out in the comments, the etymological information given in the first citation is incorrect. Etymological Note: From the noun “pap,” shortened from and meaning “paparazzi.”

2 Comments | Cites | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Citations: [1992 Giles Elgood @ London, United Kingdom (Reuters) (Aug. 20) “Pap Snaps Embarrass The Rich And Famous”: Pap Snaps Embarrass The Rich And Famous.…Paparazzi—the Italian name comes from the sound of popping flashbulbs—need incredible persistence and the hide of a rhinoceros. Irate subjects snapped in compromising situations often take a swing at a cameraman.] [1994 Cal McCrystal Sunday Age (Melbourne, Australia) (Sept. 25) “Indecent Exposure” p. 2: “The paps,” as the freelance and tabloid snappers are known, are always manoeuvring for the embarrassing disclosure, just as Bennett’s dogging of the mounted monarch was in the hope of photographing her falling off.] [2002 Jessica Callan, Eva Simpson, Bryony Gordon Mirror (United Kingdom) (Jan. 4) “3am - Papping Out” p. 23: 3am - Papping Out.…Dane Bowers, the singer-turned-DJ, has been posing with a “mystery” blonde who exposed a breast for eager paparazzi.] 2002 Katie Derham Times (United Kingdom) (Feb. 22) “Play by the PR rules”: When you see paparazzi pictures in the paper, it is impossible to know how traumatic being “papped” can be until you have been through it yourself. 2002 Ali Stokes South Wales Echo (United Kingdom) (Sept. 7) “Sun not shining on angel” p. 9: Schoolgirl millionairess Charlotte Church got her first real taste of being “papped” when photos of her and her “bit of rough” boyfriend were splashed all over The Sun. 2005 Sky Showbiz (June 1) “Armed And Dangerous”: Super-skinny Teri Hatcher has been papped pounding the pavements with dumbbells in hand, making sure her forearms stay as trim as her pipe-cleaner pins. 2007 First Post (United Kingdom) (July 16) “Meet Moherty and friends”: Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller. Inspired by the burgeoning “best friend” relationship between the two, recently “papped” together at every opportunity.

Posted 17 Jul 07 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

The first citation appears to be wrong - paparazzi comes from the character in Fellini’s Dolce Vita called Paparazzo, and the Italian comes from a dialect word for mosquito.

by DavidW 18 Jul 07, 0715 GMT

You’re right, David, but I quote it for the use of “pap” in the headline, and not the etymological information.

by Grant Barrett 18 Jul 07, 0731 GMT