To tell you the truth, there is no actual definition of the word from the Victorian info we've found.  The closest synonym we can think of in today's usage, would be "nut dish".  You know, you put them on the corners of the card table or the bar to hold treats people like to nibble.  Some catalog ads call them olive dishes or bon-bons - so use them for anything of the sort.  The early(1850s & 60s) catalogs call regular flat bowls nappies.
     Most of the later Victorian nappies have one or even two handles.  They make great gifts because they are used by almost everyone for something and they are very reasonably priced for 100 year old glass!

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ALABAMA aka Beaded Bullseye & Drape is the State Pattern for the "Heart of Dixie". The nappy dish is 5 1/2" in diameter & the overall size with the handle is 6 1/2".    $38

ARCHED FLEUR D LIS by Bryce Higbee 5" diameter. $35

R - CHICKENWIRE aka Sawtooth Honeycomb by Steimer Gl Co. **SOLD**
BRILLIANT Riverside's #436 aka Petaled Medallion ca. 1895.
6" across the dish.
Can be used for a spoon rest - see HERE.
In amber stained $75
In clear $55
EIGHT O EIGHT aka
Model #808 by Model Flint ca. 1890s.  $30

BULLSEYE IN FAN aka Daisies in Oval Panels by U S Glass Co. ca. 1905
6" x 7" $36
CANNONBALL PINWHEEL by U S Glass Co. ca. 1906.
4 3/4" square dish. $25

CUT LOG aka Ethol 5" diameter. By Bryce Higbee ca. 1890s  $35
DALTON aka Cradled Diamonds by Tarentum ca. 1904. 5" dish. No handle.  $28

GARDEN OF EDEN dish is 3 1/4" x 6". From the 1870s. $28
GARDEN OF EDEN aka Rustic by Campbell Jones ca. 1880.  6 1/4" long.
$32
INDIANA aka Prison Window is 4 1/2" wide. Made by the U S Glass Co. ca. 1896. $24

HEAVY PANELED GRAPE by Kokomo Jenkins ca. 1904. 5" diam.   $38
ALABAMA aka Beaded Bullseye & Drape is 5 1/2" OD and 6 1/2" overall See also HERE. $45

IVY IN SNOW aka Forest Ware by Coop Flint ca. 1894.  4 1/2" diameter. $34

BIRD & STRAWBERRY by Indiana Glass  ca. 1914.  5 3/8" diameter.
3 feet; no handle. $35

IVY IN SNOW in milk glass - later issue - heart shaped bowl.
4 1/2" x 5" $32
HICKMAN  aka LeClede
by McKee ca. 1897.
6 1/4" long & 4 1/2" wide. Also works as a spoon rest.
L. - in clear $32
R. - in green/gold $38
KING'S #500 aka Swirl & Thumbprint is 5 1/2" across.  The edge gold is okay, not great. Beautiful cobalt blue!
$55

KENTUCKY
4 1/2" Square by U S Glass Co. in clear $34 .

LACY DAISY is nearly 5" diam. by Higbee
CA 1908.   $32
LEAF BRACKET by Indiana Tumbler & Goblet Co. is scarce in clear glass.  It is3 3/4" wide & 4" long not incl. handle.  $55

MAJESTIC by McKee ca. 1893.  In clear, triangle shape $33

In green 4 1/2" in diameter $45
**SOLD**
HORSEMINT by Beatty & Sons ca. 1890s 
Some gold decor. $28

PANELLED CANE by Fostoria ca. 1902. $42
NEW YORK aka U S Rib
is 5" square.  $34

PATTEE CROSS
4 3/4"across.  Maker unknown  $32
OVERSHOT
a rarity in flint with an applied reeded handle. Maker unknown ca. 1850s. $75
PAVONIA or ROANOKE pattern by Ripley.  It is like a folded 6" plate.
An unlisted form.
$36
PINEAPPLE & FAN by Heisey ca. 1898
5 1/4" across $55
PLEAT & PANEL is a popular Bryce Bros pattern ca. 1882-3.
It has a handle and the bowl part is 5" square.
$36
SCALLOPED SIX POINTS - a fancy pattern by Geo. Duncan & Sons, their #30. It is 6" long overall.
$25
ROYAL CRYSTAL by Tarentum ca. 1894. 5 1/2" bowl - no handle. $32

SILVER QUEEN by Ripley & Co. ca. 1891.
Etched. $42
SUNBEAM by McKee
ca. 1898. 5" across.  $65

TEPEE aka Nemesis by Duncan ca. 1896. $45
TREE OF LIFE
by Hobbs Brockunier ca. 1879.  Useful as a nappy or a spoon rest.
5"across x 7" long
In blue or vaseline $42. 
In clear $32.
VICTORIA by
Riverside ca. 1894. 
4 1/2" round. $75
These prices do not include the cost of shipping & insurance.