Short sleep is a term used to describe a period of rest that is shorter than a full night's sleep. SIESTA (6 letters), NAP (3 letters), CATNAP (6 letters), DOZE (4 letters) and SNOOZE (6 letters) are all words used to describe a short sleep. A SIESTA is a short afternoon NAP taken in the early afternoon, usually after lunch. A NAP is a short sleep taken during the day, usually lasting no more than an hour or two. A CATNAP is a very short NAP, usually lasting only a few minutes. Dozing is a light sleep, often with frequent interruptions. Snoozing is a light sleep, usually with frequent awakenings.