c.1600, probably of imitative origin. Originally in reference to dog sounds; meaning "to talk idle chatter" is first recorded 1886. Related: Yapped; yapping.
[probably fr British dialect, ''half-wit'']
The mouth; bazoo: every time you open your yap to say something (1900+)
verbTo talk, esp idly or naggingly; yammer: You've been yapping away (1886+)
Related Termsblow off one's mouth, open one's yap
[probably echoic, and similar to the sense ''yelp,'' esp as a small dog does]
A young person in one of the learned and well-paid professions
[1970s+; fr Young American Professional]