cannibal (n.) — capitalise (v.)

cannibal (n.)

"human that eats human flesh," 1550s, from Spanish canibal, caribal "a savage, cannibal," from Caniba, Christopher Columbus' rendition of the Caribs' name for themselves (often given in modern transliterations as kalino or karina; see Carib, and compare Caliban).ETD cannibal (n.).2

The natives were believed by the Europeans to be anthropophagites. Columbus, seeking evidence that he was in Asia, thought the name meant the natives were subjects of the Great Khan. The form was reinforced by later writers who connected it to Latin canis "dog," in reference to their supposed voracity, a coincidence which "naturally tickled the etymological fancy of the 16th c." [OED]. The Spanish word had reached French by 1515. Used of animals from 1796. An Old English word for "cannibal" was selfæta.ETD cannibal (n.).3

cannibalization (n.)

1907, "the eating of one's own kind," noun of action from cannibalize. As "the makeshift practice of removing working parts from one vehicle or piece of equipment to service another" from 1942, a World War II military term.ETD cannibalization (n.).2

cannibalize (v.)

1798 (in Burke's memoirs), figurative, and meaning "be perverted into cannibalism," from cannibal + -ize. The meaning "take parts from one construction and use them in another" is from 1943, originally of military equipment. Related: Cannibalized; cannibalizing.ETD cannibalize (v.).2

cannibalism (n.)

"the eating of human flesh by human beings," 1796, from cannibal + -ism. Perhaps from French cannibalisme, which is attested from the same year.ETD cannibalism (n.).2

cannibalise (v.)

chiefly British English spelling of cannibalize (q.v.); for suffix, see -ize. Related: Cannibalised; cannibalising; cannibalisation.ETD cannibalise (v.).2

cannibalistic (adj.)

"characterized by cannibalism," 1840, from cannibal + -istic. Elder, but swallowed by the later word, were cannibalic, cannibalish (both from 1824), cannibalean (c. 1600).ETD cannibalistic (adj.).2

cannister (n.)

obsolete form of canister.ETD cannister (n.).2

cannoli (n.)

cigar-shaped tubes of fried pastry filled with sweetened ricotta, a Sicilian dessert, 1948, from Italian cannoli, plural of cannola, literally "small tube," from Latin cannula "small reed or pipe," diminutive of canna "reed, pipe" (see cane (n.)).ETD cannoli (n.).2

cannon (n.)

c. 1400, "artillery piece, mounted gun for throwing projectiles by force of gunpowder," from Anglo-French canon (mid-14c.), Old French canon (14c.), from Italian cannone "large tube, barrel," augmentative of Latin canna "reed, tube" (see cane (n.)). The double -n- spelling to differentiate it from canon is from c. 1800. Cannon fodder (1847) translates German kanonenfutter (compare Shakespeare's food for powder in "I Hen. IV").ETD cannon (n.).2

cannonade (n.)

"a continued discharge of artillery," 1650s, from cannon + -ade. As a verb, "attack with artillery," from 1660s. Compare French canonnade (16c.), Italian cannonata. Related: Cannonaded; cannonading.ETD cannonade (n.).2

cannon-ball (n.)

also cannon ball, "iron ball to be shot from a cannon," 1660s, from cannon (n.) + ball (n.1). Earlier in this sense was cannon-shot (1590s). As a type of dive, from 1905.ETD cannon-ball (n.).2

cannon-shot (n.)

"distance a cannon will throw a ball," 1570s, from cannon (n.) + shot (n.).ETD cannon-shot (n.).2

cannot (v.)

a way of writing can not, c. 1400, from can (v.1) + not. Old English expressed the notion by ne cunnan. The typical representation of the Scottish pronunciation is canna.ETD cannot (v.).2

cannula (n.)

"tubular surgical instrument inserted in the body to drain fluid," 1680s, from Latin cannula "small reed or pipe," diminutive of canna "reed, pipe" (see cane (n.)). Related: Cannular.ETD cannula (n.).2

canoe (v.)

"paddle a canoe," 1842 (implied in canooing), from canoe (n.). Related: Canoed; canoeing.ETD canoe (v.).2

canoeing (n.)

1847, verbal noun from canoe (v.). Related: Canoeist (1865).ETD canoeing (n.).2

canoe (n.)

"light boat propelled by hand-held paddle or paddles," 1550s, originally in a West Indian context, from Spanish canoa, a word used by Columbus, from Arawakan (Haiti) canaoua. Extended to rough-made or dugout boats generally. Early variants in English included cano, canow, canoa, etc., before spelling settled down 18c. To paddle one's (own) canoe "do for oneself make one's way by one's own exertions," is from 1828, American English.ETD canoe (n.).2

canola (n.)

"rapeseed," a euphemistic name coined 1978, supposedly involving Canada, where it was developed, and the root of oil (n.). For the older name see rape (n.2).ETD canola (n.).2

canonize (v.)

late 14c., "to place officially in the canon or calendar of saints," from Old French canonisier and directly from Medieval Latin canonizare, from Late Latin canon "church rule, catalogue of saints" (see canon (n.1)). Related: Canonized; canonizing.ETD canonize (v.).2

canon (n.2)

"clergyman living according to rules," c. 1200 (late 12c. as a surname), from Anglo-French canun, from Old North French canonie (Modern French chanoine), from Church Latin canonicus "clergyman living under a rule," noun use of Latin adjective canonicus "according to rule" (in ecclesiastical use, "pertaining to the rules or institutes of the church canonical"), from Greek kanonikos, from kanon "rule" (see canon (n.1)).ETD canon (n.2).2

canonical (adj.)

early 15c., "according to ecclesiastical law," from Medieval Latin canonicalis, from Late Latin canonicus "according to rule," in Church Latin, "pertaining to the canon" (see canon (n.1)). Earlier was canonial (early 13c.). The general sense of "conformed or conforming to rule" is from 1560s. The meaning "of or belonging to the canon of Scripture" is from 1560s; hence "of admitted excellence" (1550s).ETD canonical (adj.).2

canonization (n.)

"act of enrolling a beatified person among the saints," late 14c., from Medieval Latin canonizationem (nominative canonizatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of canonizare (see canonize). Exclusively the power of the popes since 1179.ETD canonization (n.).2

canon (n.1)

"a rule or law," Old English canon "rule, law, or decree of the Church," from Old French canon or directly from Late Latin canon "Church law, a rule or doctrine enacted by ecclesiastical authority," in classical Latin, "measuring line, rule," from Greek kanon "any straight rod or bar; rule; standard of excellence," perhaps from kanna "reed" (see cane (n.)).ETD canon (n.1).2

The Latin word was taken in ecclesiastical use for "decree of the Church." General sense of "a rule or principle" is from late 14c.; that of "standard of judging" is from c. 1600. From c. 1400 as "the Scriptures, the books of the Bible accepted by the Christian church," also extended to secular books of admitted excellence or supremacy. Fandom sense "material regarded as veritable" is by 1934, originally in reference to the Sherlock Holmes series. The meaning "catalogue of acknowledged saints" is from 1727. The musical sense of "a kind of fugal composition" is from 1590s. Related: Canonicity.ETD canon (n.1).3

canoodle (v.)

by 1830, "to cheat, deceive," in an English collection of Irish songs, and also used, punningly, in the lines of an Englishman character in a "grand dramatic melodrama" set in India: "There, thanks to my canoe—we've canoodled those Bramins nicely, and effected a clear retreat to my retreat here." ["The Cataract of the Ganges, or The Rajah's Daughter" by W.T. Moncrieff].ETD canoodle (v.).2

It is used in New Orleans by 1843, also as a noun, "hanky-panky, illicit procedure." After 1848, canoodling or cahoodling turns up in Southern U.S. newspapers with a sense of "political manipulation, back-room deals:ETD canoodle (v.).3

Canoodling is frequent in certain North Carolina papers through the 1870s. The Standard (July 12, 1866) writes of cohooting and canoodling.ETD canoodle (v.).4

The Washington (D.C.) Evening Star also used it often from 1854, in columns widely reprinted in the Southern press, but as cahoodling, also, at least once cohoodling [Sept. 29, 1858]. It defines "the cahoodling line" as "those in Washington interested in securing places at a distance for their respective friends" [Sept. 9, 1854].ETD canoodle (v.).5

The word seemed to require explanation when it appeared in the northern press. From A Chicago Tribune account (Dec. 14, 1859) from a D.C. correspondent of the fight over Speaker of the House:ETD canoodle (v.).6

It is spelled canoedle in a Pennsylvania paper [Lebanon Daily News, Oct. 17, 1874], but this might have been for humorous effect, as it is in a mock letter to a would-be candidate ("You canoedling unculinary old cucumber, shut up ; you have no chance for Congress, and Cherrington says you are not fit to watch his fish ponds.")ETD canoodle (v.).7

The sense shift toward "to indulge in caresses and fondling endearments" [OED] is attested by 1860s; W.S. Fortey published in an English songbook "And he Said my Dear Maid will you Marry Me?" a woman's comical lament about her wooer:ETD canoodle (v.).8

What is evidently a reworking of the "Ganges" play from 1866 uses canoodling in a way suggestive of fond caressing. [The Western Times, Exeter, Dec. 28, 1866]. Another early use is in Trewman's Exeter Flying Post for Feb. 18, 1874. The newspaper's account of the Cullompton petty session of two days previous includes the case of a young fellow charged with "being on the premises of Mr. R. M. Dawdney, of Pound Down Farm, Silverton, for an unlawful purpose," viz. to spoon with his sweetheart, Dawdney's servant girl, "in the small hours of the morning."ETD canoodle (v.).9

In 1869 W.S. Gilbert published "The King of Canoodle-Dum," one of his popular, buffoonish "Bab Ballads." It concerns an English sailor shipwrecked in the West Indies who is taken up by said native "king" and given a life of tropical luxury. Thanks probably to the song, Canoodle-dum seems to have had some currency in England in the 1870s, referring vaguely to peoples in Africa or the Caribbean.ETD canoodle (v.).10

Canopic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to Canopus," the town in ancient lower Egypt (famous for its temple of Serapis), hence canopic jar, canopic vase, made there, with lids in the forms of human heads, which often held the entrails of embalmed bodies (1878).ETD Canopic (adj.).2

can-opener (n.)

"instrument for opening one end of a sealed tin can," 1868, from can (n.) + opener.ETD can-opener (n.).2

canopy (n.)

"suspended covering serving as protection or shelter," late 14c., canope, from Old French conope "bed-curtain" (Modern French canapé), from Medieval Latin canopeum, a dissimilatiion of Latin conopeum "mosquito curtain,"from Greek kōnōpeion "Egyptian couch with mosquito curtains," from kōnōps "mosquito, gnat," which is of unknown origin; perhaps from Egyptian hams (with a hard "h") "gnat" and altered in Greek by folk-etymology, but Beekes says "substrate origin is the only plausible option."ETD canopy (n.).2

The same word (canape) in French, Spanish, and Portuguese has taken the other part of the Greek sense and now means "sofa, couch." Italian canape is a French loan word.ETD canopy (n.).3

canopy (v.)

"cover with or as with a canopy," c. 1600, from canopy (n.). Related: Canopied; canopying.ETD canopy (v.).2

Canopus (n.)

bright southern star, 1550s, ultimately from Greek Kanopos, Kanobos perhaps from Egyptian Kahi Nub "golden earth." The association with "weight" found in the name of the star in some northern tongues may reflect the fact that it never rises far above the horizon in those latitudes. Also the name of a town in ancient lower Egypt (see Canopic).ETD Canopus (n.).2

canting (n.)

1560s, "practice of using thieves' cant," verbal noun from cant (v.1).ETD canting (n.).2

can't (v.)

1650s, a contraction of cannot.ETD can't (v.).2

cant (n.1)

"pretentious or insincere talk, ostentatious conventionality in speech," 1709. The earliest use is as a slang word for "the whining speech of beggars asking for alms" (1640s), from the verb in this sense (1560s), from Old North French canter (Old French chanter) "to sing, chant," from Latin cantare, frequentative of canere "to sing" (from PIE root *kan- "to sing").ETD cant (n.1).2

Century Dictionary notes the ecclesiastical use of cantus in Medieval Latin, and writes, "The word cant may thus have become associated with beggars; but there may have been also an allusion to a perfunctory performance of divine service and hence a hypocritical use of religious phrases." The sense in English expanded after 1680 to mean "the jargon of criminals and vagabonds," and from thence the word was applied contemptuously by any sect or school to the phraseology of its rival.ETD cant (n.1).3

cant (v.1)

1560s, "to speak in a whining voice," from cant (n.1). From c. 1600 as "to speak in the jargon of thieves and vagabonds;" 1670s as "talk hypocritically in pompous phraseology." Related: Canted; canting.ETD cant (v.1).2

cant (n.2)

"slope, slant," late 14c., first in Scottish writing and apparently meaning "edge, brink," a word of uncertain origin. "[W]ords identical in form and corresponding in sense are found in many languages, Teutonic, Slavonic, Romanic, Celtic" [OED, 1989]. It was rare in English before c. 1600. The meaning "slope, slanting or tilting position" is from 1847.ETD cant (n.2).2

Perhaps it comes via Old North French cant "corner" (itself perhaps via Middle Low German kante or Middle Dutch kant), from Vulgar Latin *canthus, from Latin cantus "iron tire of a wheel," which is possibly from a Celtic word meaning "rim of wheel, edge, brim" (compare Welsh cant "bordering of a circle, tire, edge," Breton cant "circle"). The ultimate connections of these are uncertain. Greek kanthos "corner of the eye," and Russian kutu "corner" sometimes are suggested, but there are difficulties (see Beekes).ETD cant (n.2).3

cant (v.2)

1540s, "give a cant to an edge," from cant (n.2). From 1741 as "put in an oblique position;" in sailing, "move obliquely," 1784. Related: Canted; canting.ETD cant (v.2).2

cantabile (adj.)

of music, "executed in the style of a song, smooth and flowing," 1724, from Italian, literally "singable, that can be sung," from cantare "to sing" (from PIE root *kan- "to sing").ETD cantabile (adj.).2

Cantabria

ancient region in northern Spain, said to come from a Celtic base *kant- meaning "rock" or "rocky." Related: Cantabrian.ETD Cantabria.2

Cantabrigian (adj.)

"pertaining to Cambridge," 1540s, from Medieval Latin Cantabrigia (see Cambridge) + -an. The shortened form Cantab is attested from 1750 as "member or graduate of the University of Cambridge."ETD Cantabrigian (adj.).2

cantaloupe (n.)

also cantaloup, small, round type of melon, 1739, from French, from Italian, from Cantalupo, name of a former Papal summer estate near Rome, where the melons first were grown in Europe after their introduction (supposedly from Armenia). The place name seems to be "singing wolf" and might refer to a spot where wolves gathered, but the name or the story might be folk etymology.ETD cantaloupe (n.).2

cantankerous (adj.)

"marked by ill-tempered contradiction or opposition," 1772, said by Grose to be "a Wiltshire word," conjectured to be from an alteration (influenced perhaps by raucous) of a dialectal survival of Middle English contakour "troublemaker" (c. 1300), which is from Anglo-French contec "discord, strife," from Old French contechier (Old North French contekier), from con- "with" + teche, related to atachier "hold fast" (see attach). With -ous. Related: Cantankerously; cantankerousness.ETD cantankerous (adj.).2

cantata (n.)

1724, "musical recitation of a story," from Italian cantata, literally "that which is sung," past participle of cantare "to sing," from Latin cantare "to sing" (from PIE root *kan- "to sing").ETD cantata (n.).2

cantatrice (n.)

"female professional singer," 1803, from French cantatrice, from Italian, from Latin cantatrix, fem. of cantator "a singer," from cantare "to sing" (from PIE root *kan- "to sing").ETD cantatrice (n.).2

canteen (n.)

1744 (in a recollection from c. 1710), "store in a military camp," from French cantine "sutler's shop" (17c.), from Italian cantina "wine cellar, vault," diminutive of canto "a side, corner, angle." Thus it is perhaps another descendant of the many meanings that were attached to Latin canto "corner;" in this case, perhaps "corner for storage." A Gaulish origin also has been proposed.ETD canteen (n.).2

The sense of "refreshment room at a military base" (1803) was extended to schools, etc. by 1870. The meaning "small tin for water or liquor, carried by soldiers on the march, campers, etc." is from 1744, from a sense in French.ETD canteen (n.).3

canter (v.)

of horses, "move with a moderate or easy gallop," 1706, from a contraction of canterbury (v.), 1670s, from Canterbury pace (1630s), "easy pace at which pilgrims ride to Canterbury" (q.v.). Related: Cantered; cantering.ETD canter (v.).2

canter (n.2)

c. 1600, "professional beggar," agent noun from cant (v.1). From 1650s as "one who talks religious cant."ETD canter (n.2).2

canter (n.1)

"moderate or easy gallop," 1755, from canter (v.).ETD canter (n.1).2

Canterbury

Old English Cantware-buruh "fortified town of the Kentish people," from Cant-ware "the people of Kent" (see Kent). The Roman name was Duroverno, from Romano-British *duro- "walled town."ETD Canterbury.2

Pope Gregory the Great intended to make London, as the largest southern Anglo-Saxon city, the metropolitan see of southern England, but Christianity got a foothold first in the minor kingdom of Kent, whose heathen ruler Ethelbert had married a Frankish Christian princess. London was in the Kingdom of Essex and out of reach of the missionaries at first. Therefore, in part perhaps to flatter Ethelbert, his capital was made the cathedral city. Related: Canterburian. The shrine of Thomas à Becket, murdered there 1170, was a favorite pilgrimage destination.ETD Canterbury.3

cantharides (n.)

late 14c., cantaride, type of beetle (the "Spanish fly"), especially as dried, ground up, and used medicinally to raise blisters, from Latin plural of cantharis, from Greek kantharis "blister-fly, a kind of beetle." Beekes says this is a derivative of kantharos, also the name of a kind of beetle, for which there is no good etymology. Their use (taken internally) as a sexual stimulant is attested by c. 1600. Related: Cantharic.ETD cantharides (n.).2

canticle (n.)

"short hymn," early 13c., from Latin canticulum "a little song," diminutive of canticum "song" (also a scene in Roman comedy enacted by one person and accompanied by music and dancing), from cantus "song, a singing; bird-song," from past participle stem of canere "to sing" (from PIE root *kan- "to sing").ETD canticle (n.).2

cantilever (n.)

"projecting block or bracket from a building supporting a molding, balcony, etc.," 1660s, probably from cant (n.2) + lever, but earliest form (c. 1610) was cantlapper. First element also might be Spanish can "dog" as an architect's term for an end of timber jutting out of a wall, on which beams rested. Related: Cantilevered.ETD cantilever (n.).2

cantina (n.)

"bar room, saloon," 1892, Texas and U.S. southwest dialect, from Spanish and Italian form of canteen in the "wine cellar" sense.ETD cantina (n.).2

cantle (n.)

early 14c., "a part, a portion," also "a section cut out of anything" (mid-15c.), from Old North French cantel "corner, piece" (Old French chantel, Modern French chanteau), from Medieval Latin cantellus, diminutive of cantus "corner" (see cant (n.2)).ETD cantle (n.).2

canto (n.)

1580s, "a section of a long poem," used in Italian by Dante, in English first by Spenser, from Italian canto "song," from Latin cantus "song, a singing; bird-song," from past participle stem of canere "to sing" (from PIE root *kan- "to sing").ETD canto (n.).2

In medieval music, canto fermo (1789, from Italian, from Latin cantus firmus "fixed song") was the ancient traditional vocal music of the Church, so called because set by authority and unalterable. After time other voices were added above and below it.ETD canto (n.).3

canton (n.)

1530s, "corner, angle," from French canton "angle, corner (of a room); piece, portion of a country" (13c.), from Italian (Lombard dialect) cantone "region," especially in the mountains, augmentative of Latin canto "section of a country," literally "corner" (see cant (n.2)).ETD canton (n.).2

From 1570s as a term in heraldry and flag descriptions. From c. 1600 as "a subdivision of a country;" applied to the sovereign states of the Swiss republic from 1610s.ETD canton (n.).3

Canton

18c., the former English transliteration of the name of the major port city in southern China and the region around it, properly the name of the region, now known in English as Guangdong (formerly also transliterated as Quang-tung, Kwangtung), from guang "wide, large, vast" + dong "east." The city name itself is now transliterated as Guangzhou (guang, from the province name, + zhou "region"). One of the first Chinese cities open to Westerners; the older form of the name is from the British-run, Hong Kong-based Chinese postal system.ETD Canton.2

cantonment (n.)

1756, "military quarters, part of a town assigned to a particular regiment," from French cantonnement, from cantonner "to divide into cantons" (14c.), from canton "angle, corner" (see canton). The meaning "action of quartering troops" is from 1757.ETD cantonment (n.).2

canton (v.)

1590s, "divide into districts," from canton (n.). Related: Cantoned.ETD canton (v.).2

Cantonese (n.)

1816 (n.), "native or inhabitant of Canton;" 1840 (adj.) "of or pertaining to Canton;" from Canton (q.v.) + -ese.ETD Cantonese (n.).2

cantor (n.)

1530s, "church song-leader," from Latin cantor "singer, poet, actor," agent noun from past-participle stem of canere "to sing" (from PIE root *kan- "to sing"). Applied in English to the Hebrew chazzan from 1893. Related: Cantorial.ETD cantor (n.).2

cantrip (n.)

"magical spell," 1719, a Scottish word of uncertain origin; despite much speculation it is unclear even where the word is divided, whether the second element is rope (perhaps a reference to knotted cords as magical devices) or trappa "a step" or some other thing.ETD cantrip (n.).2

Canuck (n.)

U.S. word for "a Canadian," especially a French-Canadian, 1835, perhaps a cross between Canada and Chinook, the native people in the Columbia River region. Often, but not always, more or less slighting. As an adjective from 1853. The NHL team in Vancouver joined the league in 1970; the name had been used by a minor league franchise there from 1945.ETD Canuck (n.).2

canula

variant of cannula.ETD canula.2

canvas (n.)

"sturdy cloth made from hemp or flax," mid-14c., from Anglo-French canevaz, Old North French canevach, Old French chanevaz "canvas," literally "made of hemp, hempen," noun use of Vulgar Latin adjective *cannapaceus "made of hemp," from Latin cannabis, from Greek kannabis "hemp," a Scythian or Thracian word (see cannabis).ETD canvas (n.).2

Latin adjectives in -aceus sometimes were made in Romanic languages into nouns of augmentative or pejorative force. Especially as a surface for oil paintings from c. 1700; hence "an oil painting" (1764).ETD canvas (n.).3

canvas-back (n.)

also canvasback, 1785 as a type of North American duck, so called for the color of the back. Earlier as an adjective for a type of garment made of expensive stuff in front and cheap canvas in the back (c. 1600); from canvas (n.) + back (n.).ETD canvas-back (n.).2

canvass (v.)

c. 1500, "toss in a canvas sheet," from alternative spelling of canvas (n.). From "toss in a canvas sheet for the purpose of sifting" the meaning was extended figuratively to "shake out, examine carefully" (1520s). From thence (though the image in the sense-shift is less clear) to "solicit votes or test support before an election" (1550s). Compare Old French canabasser "to examine carefully," literally "to sift through canvas." The spelling with a double -s- dates from 16c. and is useful to distinguish it from the other word. Related: Canvassed; canvassing. As a noun, "a soliciting of votes or testing of support," from c. 1610s.ETD canvass (v.).2

canyon (n.)

"narrow valley between cliffs," 1834, from Mexican Spanish cañon, extended sense of Spanish cañon "a pipe, tube; deep hollow, gorge," augmentative of cano "a tube," from Latin canna "reed" (see cane (n.)). But earlier spelling callon (1560s) might suggest a source in calle "street."ETD canyon (n.).2

canzone (n.)

1580s, a style of lyric poetry, from Italian canzone, from Latin cantionem (nominative cantio) "singing, song" (also source of Spanish cancion, French chanson), noun of action from past-participle stem of canere "to sing" (from PIE root *kan- "to sing"). In Italian or Provençal, a song resembling the madrigal but less strict in style. In English as "a musical setting of such lyric poetry" (also canzona) by 1880.ETD canzone (n.).2

cap (v.)

c. 1400, "to put a cap on," from cap (n.); the meaning "cover as with a cap" is from c. 1600. The figurative sense of "complete, consummate, bring to a climax" is from 1580s; that of "go one better, outdo, excel" is by 1821. Related: Capped; capping. To cap verses (1610s) was "to quote alternately verses each beginning with the same letter with which the last ended."ETD cap (v.).2

cap (n.)

late Old English cæppe "hood, head-covering, cape," a general Germanic borrowing (compare Old Frisian and Middle Dutch kappe, Old High German chappa) from Late Latin cappa "a cape, hooded cloak" (source of Spanish capa, Old North French cape, French chape), a word of uncertain origin. Possibly a shortened from capitulare "headdress," from Latin caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head").ETD cap (n.).2

The Late Latin word apparently originally meant "a woman's head-covering," but the sense was transferred to "hood of a cloak," then to "cloak" itself, though the various senses co-existed. Old English took in two forms of the Late Latin word, one meaning "head-covering," the other "ecclesiastical dress" (see cape (n.1)). In most Romance languages, a diminutive of Late Latin cappa has become the usual word for "head-covering" (such as French chapeau).ETD cap (n.).3

The meaning "soft, small, close-fitted head covering" in English is from early 13c., originally for women; extended to men late 14c.; extended to cap-like coverings on the ends of anything (as in hubcap) from mid-15c. The meaning "contraceptive device" is by 1916.ETD cap (n.).4

The meaning "cap-shaped piece of copper lined with gunpowder and used to ignite a firearm" is by 1825, hence cap-gun (1855); extended to paper strips used in toy pistols by 1872 (cap-pistol is from 1879).ETD cap (n.).5

Figurative thinking cap is from 1839 (considering cap is 1650s). Cap and bells (1781) was the insignia of a fool; cap and gown (1732) of a scholar. To set one's cap at or for (1773) means "use measures to gain the regard or affection of," usually in reference to a woman seeking a man's courtship.ETD cap (n.).6

capable (adj.)

"sufficiently able, having power or capacity, qualified," 1590s, from French capable "able, sufficient; able to hold," or directly from Late Latin capabilis "receptive; able to grasp or hold," used by theologians, from Latin capax "able to hold much, broad, wide, roomy;" also "receptive, fit for;" adjectival form of capere "to grasp, lay hold, take, catch; undertake; take in, hold; be large enough for; comprehend" (from PIE root *kap- "to grasp"). Other late 16c. senses in English, now obsolete, were "able to comprehend; able to contain; extensive." Related: Capably.ETD capable (adj.).2

capability (n.)

"quality of being capable, ability to receive or power to do," 1580s, from capable + -ity. Capabilities "undeveloped faculty or property" is attested from 1778.ETD capability (n.).2

capacity (n.)

early 15c., capacite, "ability to contain; size, extent;" also "ability" in a legal, moral, or intellectual sense, from Old French capacité "ability to hold" (15c.), from Latin capacitatem (nominative capacitas) "breadth, capacity, capability of holding much," noun of state from capax (genitive capacis) "able to hold much," from capere "to take" (from PIE root *kap- "to grasp").ETD capacity (n.).2

The sense of "power to store electricity" is from 1777; the industrial sense of "ability to produce" is from 1931. The meaning "power of containing a certain quantity" is from 1885, hence "largest audience a place can hold" (1908).ETD capacity (n.).3

capacious (adj.)

1610s, "able to contain," from Latin capax (genitive capacis) "able to take in," from capere "to take" (from PIE root *kap- "to grasp") + -ous. The original English sense is obsolete; the meaning "able to hold much" is from 1630s. Related: Capaciously; capaciousness.ETD capacious (adj.).2

capacitate (v.)

1650s, "make capable; furnish with legal powers," from Latin capacitas (see capacity) + -ate (2). Related: Capacitation.ETD capacitate (v.).2

capacitance (n.)

"ability to store an electric charge," 1893, from capacity + -ance.ETD capacitance (n.).2

capacitor (n.)

"device which stores electricity," 1926, from capacity, in reference to electrical conductors, with Latinate agent-noun ending.ETD capacitor (n.).2

cap-a-pie (adj.)

"all over" (in reference to dress or armor), 1520s, from French cap-à-pie, literally "head to foot." The more usual French form is de pied en cap. The French words are from Latin caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head") + pedem "foot" (from PIE root *ped- "foot").ETD cap-a-pie (adj.).2

caparison (n.)

1570s, "cloth spread over a saddle," also "personal dress and ornaments," from French caparasson (15c., Modern French caparaçon), from Spanish caparazón, perhaps from augmentative of Old Provençal caparasso "a mantle with a hood," or Medieval Latin caparo, the name of a type of cape worn by women, literally "chaperon" (see chaperon (n.)). Past-participle adjective caparisoned is attested from c. 1600, from a verb caparison (1590s), from French caparaçonner, from caparaçon.ETD caparison (n.).2

cape (n.2)

"promontory, piece of land jutting into a sea or lake," late 14c., from Old French cap "cape; head," from Latin caput "headland, head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). The Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa has been the Cape since 1660s. Old sailors called low cloud banks that could be mistaken for landforms on the horizon Cape fly-away (1769).ETD cape (n.2).2

cape (n.1)

"sleeveless cloak, circular covering for the shoulders," a Spanish style, late 16c., from French cape, from Spanish capa, from Late Latin cappa "hooded cloak" (see cap (n.), which is a doublet). Late Old English had capa, cæppe "cloak with a hood," directly from Latin.ETD cape (n.1).2

Cape Cod

peninsula of New England, named 1602 by English navigator Bartholomew Gosnold for the abundance of fish his men caught there (see cod). In reference to houses reminiscent of New England architecture, from 1916.ETD Cape Cod.2

capeesh

variant spelling of capiche (q.v.).ETD capeesh.2

Capella

bright northern star (fifth brightest in the heavens), the alpha of the constellation Auriga, by 17c., from Latin capella, literally "little she-goat" (Greek kinesai kheimonas), diminutive of capra "she-goat," fem. of caper "goat" (see cab).ETD Capella.2

caper (v.)

"to leap, skip, prance," 1580s, apparently short for obsolete capriole "to leap, skip," which is probably from Italian capriolare "jump in the air" (see cab). Related: Capered; capering.ETD caper (v.).2

caper (n.1)

type of prickly Mediterranean bush, also in reference to the plant's edible buds, late 14c., from Latin capparis (source of Italian cappero, French câpre, German Kaper), from Greek kapparis "the caper plant or its fruit," which is of uncertain origin. Arabic kabbar, Persian kabar are from Greek. Perhaps reborrowed into English 16c. The final -s was mistaken for a plural inflection in English and dropped.ETD caper (n.1).2

caper (n.2)

by 1590s, "a playful leap or jump, a skip or spring as in dancing," from caper (v.). The meaning "prank" is from 1840 via notion of "sportive action;" that of "crime" is from 1926. To cut capers "dance in a frolicsome way" is from c. 1600, from cut (v.) in the sense of "perform, execute."ETD caper (n.2).2

Capetian (adj.)

1802, "pertaining to or related to the descendants of Hugh Capet," founder of the French dynasty which succeeded the Carolingians in 987.ETD Capetian (adj.).2

capias (n.)

writ of arrest issued by a court in a civil action, mid-15c., from Latin capias, literally "thou mayest take" (typical first word of such a writ); 2nd person singular present subjunctive of capere "to catch, seize, hold" (from PIE root *kap- "to grasp").ETD capias (n.).2

capiche (interj.)

"do you understand?" 1940s slang, from Italian capisci? "do you understand?" from capire "to understand," from Latin capere "seize, grasp, take" (from PIE root *kap- "to grasp"). Also spelled coppish, kabish, capeesh, etc.ETD capiche (interj.).2

capillarity (n.)

"state or condition of being capillary," 1806, from French capillarité, from Latin capillaris, literally "of hair" (see capillary).ETD capillarity (n.).2

capillary (adj.)

1650s, "of or pertaining to the hair," from Latin capillaris "of hair," from capillus "hair" (of the head); perhaps related to caput "head" (but de Vaan finds this "difficult on the formal side" and "far from compelling, since capillus is a diminutive, and would mean 'little head', which hardly amounts to 'hair'"). The Latin word was borrowed earlier in English as capillar "hair-like" (c. 1400, of veins, etc.).ETD capillary (adj.).2

In modern anatomy, of tube-like structures, "having so small a bore that water will not run through it" (1742). From 1809 in reference to the phenomena of the rise of liquids in tubes, etc., by surface tension, on the notion of "taking place in capillary vessels;" hence capillary attraction (1813), etc. As a noun, "minute blood vessel," from 1660s.ETD capillary (adj.).3

capital (n.2)

1610s, "a person's wealth," from Medieval Latin capitale "stock, property," noun use of neuter of Latin capitalis "capital, chief, first" (see capital (adj.)). From 1640s as "the wealth employed in carrying on a particular business," then, in a broader sense in political economy, "that part of the produce of industry which is available for further production" (1793).ETD capital (n.2).2

Also see cattle, and compare sense development of fee, and pecuniary. Middle English had chief money "principal fund" (mid-14c.). The noun use of the adjective in classical Latin meant "a capital crime."ETD capital (n.2).3

capitation (n.)

1610s, "counting of heads," from Late Latin capitationem (nominative capitatio) "the poll tax," noun of action from past participle stem of a verb derived from caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). The meaning "levying of a poll tax" is from 1640s.ETD capitation (n.).2

capitate (adj.)

"head-shaped" (in botany, etc.), 1660s, from Latin capitatus "headed," from caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head").ETD capitate (adj.).2

capitalization (n.)

1860, "act of converting (assets) to capital," noun of action from capitalize in the financial sense. The meaning "act of writing or printing in capital letters" is recorded from 1847, from the writing sense.ETD capitalization (n.).2

capitalize (v.)

"write or print in capital letters," 1764, from capital (n.1) + -ize. The meaning "convert (assets) to capital" is recorded from 1868, from capital (n.2). Related: Capitalized; capitalizing.ETD capitalize (v.).2

capital (adj.)

early 13c., "of or pertaining to the head," from Old French capital, from Latin capitalis "of the head," hence "capital, chief, first," from caput (genitive capitis) "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). The meaning "main, principal, chief, dominant, first in importance" is from early 15c. in English. The modern informal sense of "excellent, first-rate" is by 1754 (as an exclamation of approval, OED's first example is 1875), perhaps from earlier use of the word in reference to ships, "first-rate, powerful enough to be in the line of battle," attested from 1650s, fallen into disuse after 1918. Related: Capitally.ETD capital (adj.).2

A capital letter "upper-case latter," of larger face and differing more or less in form (late 14c.) is so called because it stands at the "head" of a sentence or word. Capital gain is recorded from 1921. Capital goods is recorded from 1899.ETD capital (adj.).3

A capital crime or offense (1520s) is one that involves the penalty of death and thus affects the life or "head" (capital had a sense of "deadly, mortal" from late 14c. in English, as it did earlier in Latin). The felt connection between "head" and "life, mortality" also existed in Old English: as in heafodgilt "deadly sin, capital offense," heafdes þolian "to forfeit life." Capital punishment was in Blackstone (1765) and classical Latin capitis poena.ETD capital (adj.).4

capitalism (n.)

1854, "condition of having capital;" from capital (n.1) + -ism. The meaning "political/economic system which encourages capitalists" is recorded from 1872 and originally was used disparagingly by socialists. The meaning "concentration of capital in the hands of a few; the power or influence of large capital" is from 1877.ETD capitalism (n.).2

capital (n.3)

"head of a column or pillar," late 13c., from Anglo-French capitel, Old French chapitel (Modern French chapiteau), or directly from Latin capitellum "head of a column or pillar," literally "little head," diminutive of caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head").ETD capital (n.3).2

capital (n.1)

early 15c., "a capital letter," from capital (adj.). The meaning "city or town which is the official seat of government" is recorded from 1660s (the Old English word was heafodstol; Middle English had hevedburgh). For the financial sense see capital (n.2).ETD capital (n.1).2

capitalise (v.)

chiefly British English spelling of capitalize (q.v.). For suffix, see -ize. Related: Capitalised; capitalising.ETD capitalise (v.).2