Past tense of lap; either when a person or animal drinks by using their tongue, or when someone passes another competitor during a race.
From Old English 'lapian' meaning to drink or lick, the primary meaning; the racing sense emerged in the 1800s meaning to 'lap' or pass someone on the track.
In Formula 1 racing, a driver 'laps' slower cars as a display of dominance—the etymology reflects how a faster runner would literally lap (lick up) the dust of slower competitors.
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