40 winks

[twaflooers]

Why is a quick nap called having 40 winks?

thanks
twaflooers

[B00]

Ya might have more joy putting this in Phrases & Sayings :-)

[Quizmonster]

A 'wink' has meant a short sleep since the 1300s, although the more specific '40 winks' did not appear until about half a millennium later.
I've always assumed that the 40 refers to minutes on the basis that a nap shorter than that is not truly refreshing and one that's much longer just leaves you 'wrecked' for hours!

[bluevern]

its called a power nap these days

[filthiestfis]

I have 40 w*nks when sleeping