saper

to sap, do sapping work on (to subvert by digging); to erode, wear down, undermine

“Il établissait des comparaisons entre les écoles primaires et les frères ignorantins, au détriment de ces derniers, rappelait la Saint-Barthélemy à propos d'une allocation de cent francs faite à l'église, et dénonçait des abus, lançait des boutades. C'était son mot. Homais sapait; il devenait dangereux.” — He drew comparisons between the primary schools and the Ignorantine friars, to the detriment of the latter, recalled Saint Bartholomew's Day in connection with an allocation of a hundred francs to the church, denounced abuses, and hurled witticisms. That was his word for it. Homais was undermining the foundations; he was becoming dangerous.

Borrowed from Italian zappare (“to hoe”).

to dress

“Ce type-là est toujours bien sapé.” — That guy is always well-dressed.

Unknown.

to eat or chew noisily; to slurp

to harvest or reap forage or cereals with a small scythe

From sape, from Latin sappa. Compare Italian zappare, Friulian sapâ, Venetan sapar, Romanian săpa.