Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HAP, n. [W. hap, or hab, luck, chance of fortune, that is, that which falls, or a coming suddenly. This seems to be allied to Fr. happer, to snap or catch; D. happen; Norm. happer, to seize; W. hafiaw, to snatch. In Sp. haber signifies to have, to happen or befall, to take. These verbs seem to unite in one radix, and all coincide with L. capio. The primary sense is, to fall or to rush, hence, to rush on and seize.]

1. That which comes suddenly or unexpectedly; chance; fortune; accident; casual event. [See Chance and Casual.] Whether art it was or heedless hap. Spenser. Curs'd be good haps, and curs'd be they that build / Their hopes on haps. Sidney.
2. Misfortune. [But this word is obsolete or obsolescent, except in compounds and derivatives.]