Share this Article on Facebook Twitter Submit this article to Reddit Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

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.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"caper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"caper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-caper.html

"caper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-caper.html

Learn more about citation styles

caper

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | 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.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"caper." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"caper." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-caper.html

"caper." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-caper.html

Learn more about citation styles

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).
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

T. F. HOAD. "caper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "caper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-caper.html

T. F. HOAD. "caper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-caper.html

Learn more about citation styles

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.
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"caper." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"caper." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-caper.html

"caper." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-caper.html

Learn more about citation styles

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.
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

DAVID A. BENDER. "caper." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAVID A. BENDER. "caper." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-caper.html

DAVID A. BENDER. "caper." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-caper.html

Learn more about citation styles

caper

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | | Copyright

caper. A flower bud of Capparis spinosa. See also CAPPARIS and CAPPARIDACEAE.
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

MICHAEL ALLABY. "caper." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "caper." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-caper.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "caper." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-caper.html

Learn more about citation styles

caper

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

caper 2 frisky leap. XVI. Shortening of CAPRIOLE.
Also as vb. XVI.
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

T. F. HOAD. "caper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "caper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-caper1.html

T. F. HOAD. "caper." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-caper1.html

Learn more about citation styles

Caper

Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms | 1985 | Copyright

Caper

of kids—Lipton, 1970.
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Caper." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Caper." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300227.html

"Caper." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300227.html

Learn more about citation styles

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

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"caper." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"caper." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-caper.html

"caper." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-caper.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Capers: Big flavor in a little package.(YourWednesday)
Newspaper article from: The Seattle Times (Seattle, WA); 9/7/2011
Well-established capers could stand some fine tuning.(Business Lunch)
Magazine article from: Arkansas Business; 7/17/2006
Thrilling 'Heist' steals a stash of caper-film ideas.(Features)(Arts & Leisure)
Newspaper article from: The Christian Science Monitor; 11/9/2001

Facts and information from other sites

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

See more pictures of caper

Related topics