| 释义 |
cope-stone|ˈkəʊpstəʊn|
Also Sc. kaip-, cape-.
[f. cope n.1 + stone. The derivation is made certain by the northern forms in cape-, caip-; but the sense appears to be influenced by association with cop top, or in the northern form perhaps with cap: see cap n.1 10 b.]
The top or head stone of a building; almost always fig. the crown, completion, finishing touch.
1567in Calderwood Hist. Kirk (1843) II. 401 Now sall yee see the kaip-stone of that worke wherof yee layed the foundatioun. a1572Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 133 The house of God shalbe builded in to it. Yea, it sall not lack..the verray cope stone. c1719R. Ker Spring & Rise Ho. Queensberry in Maidment Sc. Pasquils (1868) 313 The superstructure was carried on, By shedding of the blood of men! And then the capestone its put on. 1782Burns Poor Mailie's Elegy i, The last sad cape-stane of his woes; Poor Mailie's dead! 1828Miss Mitford Village Ser. iii. (1863) 63 This elopement was the cope-stone of the admiral's misfortunes. 1891J. Clark Murray in Educat. Rev. I. 58 Such an education of the will places the copestone on the whole educational building. |