Giving dap

Dap or the dap is a friendly gesture of greeting, agreement, or solidarity between two people that has become popular in Western cultures, particularly since the 1970s, stemming from African American soldiers during the Vietnam War. Giving dap, dapping, or dapping up typically involves handshaking (often by hooking fingers), pound hugging, fist pounding, or chest or fist bumping.^[1]

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 slaps, shakes, and snaps. If known only by its two participants, 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.^[2] These choreographed actions serve as a means of psychological preparation and team solidarity.