caper
1
[ key-per ]
/ ˈkeɪ pər /
verb (used without object)
to leap or skip about in a sprightly manner; prance; frisk; gambol.
noun
a playful leap or skip.
a prank or trick; harebrained escapade.
a frivolous, carefree episode or activity.
Slang.
a criminal or illegal act, as a burglary or robbery.
Idioms for caper
cut a caper.
cut(def 84).
Origin of caper
1
1585–95; figurative use of Latin
caper he-goat (cognate with Old English
hæfer, Old Norse
hafr, Old Irish
caera sheep < a West IE term
*kap-(e)ro- for a domesticated smaller animal); for the meaning, cf.
dog (v.)
SYNONYMS FOR caper
OTHER WORDS FROM caper
ca·per·er, noun ca·per·ing·ly, adverb un·ca·per·ing, adjectiveWords nearby caper
capella,
capelli d'angelo,
capellini,
capellmeister,
capello,
caper,
caper family,
capercaillie,
capernaum,
capers,
capeskin
Definition for caper (2 of 2)
caper
2
[ key-per ]
/ ˈkeɪ pər /
noun
a spiny shrub, Capparis spinosa, of Mediterranean regions, having roundish leaves and solitary white flowers.
its flower bud, which is pickled and used for garnish or seasoning.
Compare
caper family.
Origin of caper
2
1350–1400; back formation from
capers (taken for plural), Middle English
caperes < Latin
capparis < Greek
kápparis
Example sentences from the Web for caper
British Dictionary definitions for caper (1 of 2)
caper
1
/ (ˈkeɪpə) /
noun
verb
(intr)
to leap or dance about in a light-hearted manner
Derived forms of caper
caperer, noun caperingly, adverbWord Origin for caper
C16: probably from
capriole
British Dictionary definitions for caper (2 of 2)
caper
2
/ (ˈkeɪpə) /
noun
a spiny trailing Mediterranean capparidaceous shrub, Capparis spinosa, with edible flower buds
any of various similar plants or their edible parts
See also bean caper, capers
Word Origin for caper
C15: from earlier
capers, capres (assumed to be plural), from Latin
capparis, from Greek
kapparis