capo

¹ American  

[key-poh] / ˈkeɪ poʊ /

noun

capos plural

1. any of various devices for a guitar, lute, banjo, etc., that when clamped or screwed down across the strings at a given fret will raise each string a corresponding number of half tones.

2. the nut of a guitar, lute, banjo, etc.

---

capo ² American  

[kah-poh, kap-oh] / ˈkɑ poʊ, ˈkæp oʊ /

noun

capos plural

1. the chief of a branch of the Mafia.

---

capo ¹ British  

/ ˈkeɪpəʊ, ˈkæpəʊ /

noun

1. Also called: capo tasto.  a device fitted across all the strings of a guitar, banjo, etc, so as to raise the pitch of each string simultaneously Compare barré

---

capo ² British  

/ ˈkapo, ˈkæpəʊ /

noun

1. the presumed title of a Mafia leader

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• capos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of capo¹

1875–80; < Italian, shortening of capotasto capotasto

Origin of capo²

1960–65; < Italian: head, leader < Vulgar Latin *capum for Latin caput; cf. chief

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

capo capos

“Hercules” is more streamlined than Handel’s operas, and its most dramatic passages—including Hercules’ death and Dejanira’s subsequent mad scene—are written as accompanied recitatives rather than da capo arias.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026

Sandstrom, a former capo - a fan who leads others in chants - of two Hammarby ultras groups was at a women's game with his young daughter.

From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2024

“He’s the top capo — he got put in a good position through A$AP,” Ephron testified.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2023

These witnesses and tape recordings confirm that the orders came from the top - from the boss or the capo, or the consigliere of the family.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2023

For example, if you moved counterclockwise by three keys, put the capo at the third fret.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

Much of the world still thinks of Latin American organized crime in terms of cut-throat cocaine cartels and cavalier capos like Pablo Escobar.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

Mexico has, in the recent past, sent capos, former governors and even a former security minister to the U.S. to face charges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 3, 2026

It reflects a long-standing attitude of indifference and borderline hostility to allies, of viewing them the same way that a Mafia boss regards his capos or clients in a protection racket.

From Slate ● Feb. 12, 2024

He's using mafia prosecution strategies to try to flip lower level capos to turn on the boss.

From Salon ● Nov. 28, 2022

Mention must be made of the fact that in some rare cases—as in Mendelssohn's well-known "Wedding March"—two Trios, and consequently two da capos, will be found.

From Lessons in Music Form A Manual of Analysis of All the Structural Factors and Designs Employed in Musical Composition by Goetschius, Percy