Etymology 1

Noun

1. The tongue or pole of a cart or other vehicle drawn by two animals.

Etymology 2

Adjective

1. Designating a tide which occurs just after the first and third quarters of the moon, when there is least difference between high tide and low tide.

   • 1934: Little groups of sailors came swinging along and pushied their way noisily inside the gaudy joints. Sex everywhere: it was slopping over, a neap tide that swept the props from under the city. — Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer

Verb

1. To trap a ship (or ship and crew) in water too shallow to move from due to the smaller tidal range occurring in a period of neap tides.
   • 1770: At 8, being high water, hauld her bow close ashore, but Keept her stern afloat, because I was afraid of Neaping her, and yet it was necessary to lay the whole of her as near the ground as possible. — Captain James Cook, Journal During the First Voyage Round the World, entry for 22 June 1770 http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/8106