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Green’s Dictionary of Slang

lappy adj.

also lapps

(UK und.) drunk.

1717		implied below .
1721		Bailey Universal Etymological Eng. Dict.
1731		Bailey Universal Etymological Eng. Dict. (5 edn) n.p.: lappy, in liquor, drunk. Cant.

In compounds

lappy cull (n.)

(UK Und.) one who is drunk .

1718		C. Hitchin Regulator 20: Lappy-Cull, alias one that is Drunk.
1786		Whole Art of Thieving A lappy cull a drunken man.

lappy-gag(g)er (n.)

(UK und.) one who is drunk and thus targeted for robbery.

[1717		Proc. Old Bailey 27 Feb. 5/2: The Prisoner answer'd him, that spying a Gager that was Lapps, going along in a Rattler, he went to him, and snabbled his Poll].
1717		Proc. Old Bailey 1 May 7/2: He saw a lappy Gager take a Ratler, so he loped after him, and snabbled his Poll: That is, He saw a Gentleman in drink take Coach; and be following the Coach, the Gentleman looking out, be snatch'd off his Wigg.
1725		Hist. Lives and Actions of Jonathan Wild 16: A Snabbler, that Snabbles the Poll of a Lappy-gagger, is a sort of Thieves whose Business is to steal Hatts and Perrywigs.
1725		Life and Glorious Actions of [...] Jonathan Wilde 13: The second Sort of these kind of Thieves called Snablers, are Men who make it their Business to be out late at Night, watching for Gentlemen disorder'd by Drinking (which in their canting Language is called a Lapygagger).