Giving dap

Giving dap, also called dapping or dapping up, is a gesture or series of gestures between two people that signals greeting, agreement, or solidarity. Giving dap primarily involves handshaking by mutual sliding or hooking of hands together or hooking the thumbs or fist bumping, optionally accompanied by extra features like pound hugging, chest bumping, finger snapping, etc. Dapping thus may involve a sequence of gestures as opposed to a single gesture, similar to a secret handshake. Dapping has become popular in Western culture, originating from African-American soldiers during the Vietnam War.

Giving dap can refer to presenting many kinds of positive nonverbal communication between two people, ranging from a brief moment of simple bodily contact to a complicated routine of hand bumps, shakes, and snaps. If known only by its two participants or by a limited group, it can be considered a secret handshake. Elaborate examples of dap are observed as a pregame ritual performed by many teams in the National Basketball Association, serving as a means of psychological preparation and team solidarity.