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caper

caper

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

ca·per1 / ˈkāpər/ • v. [intr.] skip or dance about in a lively or playful way: children were capering about the room. • n. 1. a playful skipping movement: she did a little caper. 2. inf. an activity or escapade, typically one that is illicit or ridiculous. ∎  an amusing or far-fetched story, esp. one presented on film or stage: a cop caper about intergalactic drug dealers. PHRASES: cut a caper make a playful, skipping movement.DERIVATIVES: ca·per·er / ˈkāpərər/ n. ca·per2 • n. 1. (usu. capers) the cooked and pickled flower buds of a spiny southern European shrub, used to flavor food. 2. the shrub (Capparis spinosa, family Capparidaceae) from which these buds are taken.

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"caper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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caper

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

caper common name for members of the Capparidaceae, a family of tropical plants found chiefly in the Old World and closely related to the family Cruciferae ( mustard family). Capparis spinosa is cultivated in the Mediterranean area for its flower buds—capers—which are pickled and used as a condiment. The spiderflower ( Cleome spinosa ) is a common garden annual. The family also includes a few species indigenous to the United States, e.g., the burro-fat ( Isomeris ), a common desert shrub of the Southwest. The caper family is classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida, order Capparales.

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"caper." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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caper

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

caper 1 the shrub Capperis spinosa XIV; its flower-buds XV. ME. capres — F. câpres — L. capparis — Gr. kápparis. The final s, being apprehended as a pl. sign, was dropped to form a new sing. (XVI).
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T. F. HOAD. "caper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "caper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-caper.html

T. F. HOAD. "caper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-caper.html

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caper

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | Copyright

caper, from the Frisian kapen, to steal, rob, plunder. It was a lightly armed ship of the 17th century used by the Dutch as a privateer or corsair. The word was, by extension, also used to designate the captain of a privateer.
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"caper." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"caper." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-caper.html

"caper." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-caper.html

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caper

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition | 2005 | | Copyright

caper Unopened flower buds of the subtropical shrub Capparis spinosa or C. inermis with a peppery flavour; used in pickles and sauces. Unripe seeds of the nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) can be pickled and used as a substitute.
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DAVID A. BENDER. "caper." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAVID A. BENDER. "caper." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-caper.html

DAVID A. BENDER. "caper." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-caper.html

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caper

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | | Copyright

caper. A flower bud of Capparis spinosa. See also CAPPARIS and CAPPARIDACEAE.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "caper." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "caper." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-caper.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "caper." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-caper.html

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caper

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

caper 2 frisky leap. XVI. Shortening of CAPRIOLE.
Also as vb. XVI.
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T. F. HOAD. "caper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "caper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-caper1.html

T. F. HOAD. "caper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-caper1.html

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Caper

Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms | 1985 | Copyright

Caper

of kids—Lipton, 1970.
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"Caper." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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caper

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

caper •clapper, crapper, dapper, flapper, grappa, kappa, knapper, mapper, nappa, napper, rapper, sapper, scrapper, snapper, strapper, tapper, trapper, wrapper, yapper, Zappa •catalpa, scalper •camper, damper, hamper, pamper, scamper, stamper, Tampa, tamper, tramper •Caspar, jasper •handicapper • kidnapper •whippersnapper •carper, harper, scarper, sharper •clasper, gasper, grasper, rasper •leper, pepper, salt-and-pepper •helper, yelper •temper •Vespa, vesper •Culpeper • sidestepper •caper, draper, escaper, gaper, paper, raper, scraper, shaper, taper, vapour (US vapor) •sandpaper • endpaper • flypaper •wallpaper • notepaper • newspaper •skyscraper •Arequipa, beeper, bleeper, creeper, Dnieper, keeper, leaper, peeper, reaper, sleeper, sweeper, weeper •gamekeeper • gatekeeper •greenkeeper (US greenskeeper) •peacekeeper • innkeeper •wicketkeeper • timekeeper •shopkeeper • storekeeper •housekeeper • goalkeeper •zookeeper • bookkeeper • treecreeper •minesweeper

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