caper

¹

[ key-per ]

verb (used without object)

1. to leap or skip about in a sprightly manner; prance; frisk; gambol.

noun

1. a playful leap or skip.
2. a prank or trick; harebrained escapade.

   Synonyms: antic, stunt

3. a frivolous, carefree episode or activity.

   Synonyms: frolic, spree

4. Slang. a criminal or illegal act, as a burglary or robbery.

caper

²

[ key-per ]

noun

1. a spiny shrub, Capparis spinosa, of Mediterranean regions, having roundish leaves and solitary white flowers.
2. its flower bud, which is pickled and used for garnish or seasoning.

caper

¹

/ ˈkeɪpə /

noun

1. a playful skip or leap
2. a high-spirited escapade
3. cut a caper or cut capers
   1. to skip or jump playfully
   2. to act or behave playfully; frolic
4. slang.
   a crime, esp an organized robbery
5. informal.
   a job or occupation
6. informal.
   a person's behaviour

verb

1. intr to leap or dance about in a light-hearted manner

caper

²

/ ˈkeɪpə /

noun

1. a spiny trailing Mediterranean capparidaceous shrub, Capparis spinosa, with edible flower buds
2. any of various similar plants or their edible parts See also bean caper capers

Derived Forms

• ˈcaperingly, adverb
• ˈcaperer, noun

Other Words From

• caper·er noun
• caper·ing·ly adverb
• un·caper·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of caper¹

First recorded in 1585–95; probably shortening and alteration of capriole ( def )

Origin of caper²

1350–1400; back formation from capers (taken for plural), Middle English caperes < Latin capparis < Greek kápparis

Word History and Origins

Origin of caper¹

C16: probably from capriole

Origin of caper²

C15: from earlier capers, capres (assumed to be plural), from Latin capparis, from Greek kapparis

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cut a caper. cut ( def 87 ).

Example Sentences

Many capers are grab-and-go schemes that unfold quickly, aided by pollinating logistics.

From Popular-Science

Conroy chops raw flank steak from the pedigreed D’Artagnan, mixing it with capers, green peppercorns and a fermented hot sauce he makes himself.

From Washington Post

Toss it with tomatoes, garlic, cayenne peppers, pasta, cheese, and lots of capers.

From Eater

Pop open a jar of caper leaves—yes, off the same plant that gives us briney capers—and have a nibble.

From Popular-Science

During renormalization, complicated submicroscopic capers tend to just disappear.

From Quanta Magazine

His latest film is The Two Faces of January, an old-fashioned caper set in scenic Greece and Turkey.

From The Daily Beast

I sought them out and mapped out what a true-to-life 21st-century caper would look like at the most powerful bank in capitalism.

From The Daily Beast

The Muppets Most Wanted might be the best puppet-led musical mystery caper farce that Hollywood has ever produced.

From The Daily Beast

David O. Russell's sexy caper, American Hustle, opens in a most unusual way.

From The Daily Beast

Why would the Revolutionary Guards, known for running a tight ship, get involved in such a sloppy caper?

From The Daily Beast

If you can induce them to take a step to the right hand, they generally indemnify themselves by cutting a caper to the left.

From Project Gutenberg

Tell me, Caper, what idea does even that rough sketch of Venice awake in your imaginative faculties, and all that?'

From Project Gutenberg

Caper's face wore a deeply thoughtful look, as he answered: 'I do see it; I do claim to read the lesson you would teach——'

From Project Gutenberg

Chandeliers constructed of egg-shells, where candles shone brightly, particularly struck Caper.

From Project Gutenberg

As soon as we were alone she began to laugh and caper like a lunatic, singing out, 'You are my rom, I'm your romi.'

From Project Gutenberg