caparison

American  

[kuh-par-uh-suhn] / kəˈpær ə sən /

noun

1. a decorative covering for a horse or for the tack or harness of a horse; trappings.

2. rich and sumptuous clothing or equipment.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cover with a caparison.

2. to dress richly; deck.

caparison British  

/ kəˈpærɪsən /

noun

1. a decorated covering for a horse or other animal, esp (formerly) for a warhorse

2. rich or elaborate clothing and ornaments

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verb

1. (tr) to put a caparison on

Other Word Forms

• uncaparisoned adjective

Etymology

Origin of caparison

1585–95; < Middle French caparasson (now caparaçon ) < Old Spanish caparazón, akin to capa cape ¹

Example Sentences

A military leader or ruler, he wears a tasseled hat, rides a caparisoned mount, and is accompanied by dozens of smaller figures, a sculptural demographic of Kajola’s citizenry.

From New York Times

You shall feast and then you shall be caparisoned like Jove himself!

From Washington Post

The black motif would have also been on the prince's surcoat worn over his armour, and on the horse's caparison.

From BBC

The fabric became alive with a “miniature but microscopically detailed battle scene,” complete with silken tents of different colors, “gaily caparisoned horses, soldiers on horseback, their armor glinting in the sun, and men with longbows.”

From New York Times

In Kollum, a group calling itself the Pooram-Perunaal Celebration Committee was denied a permit to march 52 elephants in protest; the members dressed a bulldozer in a gold-plated caparison and marched with that instead.

From New York Times