caper
UK /ˈkeɪpə/ · US /ˈkeɪpɚ/ noun, verb
Forms capers capering capered
- noun A playful leap or jump.
- noun A jump while dancing.
- noun A prank or practical joke.
- noun (usually in the plural) Playful behaviour.
- noun (figuratively) A crime, especially an elaborate heist, or a narrative about such a crime.
- verb To leap or jump about in a sprightly or playful manner.
- verb To jump as part of a dance.
- verb To engage in playful behaviour.
- verb (obsolete) To run at speed.
- noun The pungent grayish green flower bud of the European and Oriental caper (Capparis spinosa), which is pickled and eaten.
- noun A plant of the genus Capparis.
- noun A vessel formerly used by the Dutch; privateer.
- noun (Scotland) The capercaillie.
Synonyms
caperberry caper bush caper tree job capriole play frolic romp gambol antic joke prank trick put-on
Etymology
Clipping of capriole.
From Latin capparis, from Ancient Greek κάππαρις (kápparis).
Borrowed from Dutch kaper.
Shortening of capercaillie.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To leap or jump about in a sprightly manner; to cut capers; to skip; to spring; to prance; to dance.
- noun A frolicsome leap or spring; a skip; a jump, as in mirth or dancing; a prank. To cut a caper, to frolic; to make a sportive spring; to play a prank. Shak.
- noun A vessel formerly used by the Dutch, privateer. Wright.
- noun The pungent grayish green flower bud of the European and Oriental caper (Capparis spinosa), much used for pickles.
Etymology [From older capreoll to caper, cf. F. se cabrer to prance; all ultimately fr. L. caper, capra, goat. See Capriole.]
Etymology [D. kaper.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “caper”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details