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

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

From BBC • Jul. 7, 2014

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 • May 26, 2012

Hope wore it on NBC-TV's quiz show, Play Your Hunch, where contestants guessed about the number of constellations in her high-carat caparison.

From Time Magazine Archive

This time Yerby's missile is dressed in full medieval caparison.

From Time Magazine Archive

The next morning I helped to caparison him as for his wedding.

From The Great Captain: A Story of the Days of Sir Walter Raleigh by Tynan, Katharine