| 释义 |
ca·per
I. \ˈkāpə(r)\ noun
(-s)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: back-formation from earlier capers, taken as a plural, from Middle English caperis, capres, from Latin capparis, from Greek kapparis
1. : a plant of the genus Capparis; especially : a low prickly shrub (C. spinosa) of the Mediterranean region cultivated in Europe for its buds — see capparis
2. capers plural : the greenish flower buds and young berries of the caper plant pickled and used as a condiment in sauces and dressings
3. : a marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)
II. intransitive verb
(capered ; capered ; capering \-p(ə)riŋ\ ; capers)
Etymology: probably by shortening & alteration from capriole
: to leap about, prance, or cavort in a gay frolicsome way : prance, frisk, or gambol playfully or wildly
< lambs capering in the meadow >
< capering like a witch doctor among African natives — Geoffrey Household >
III. noun
(-s)
Etymology: probably by shortening & alteration from capriole
1.
a. : a gay unrestrained bounding leap : skip, jump
< the skip of the lamb and the caper of the kid — Douglas Kennedy >
b. : a leaping or cavorting dance motion
< the couples jigging in from opposite corners, performing capers and shuffles — H.L.Davis >
2.
a. : a capricious or madcap escapade : prank, antic
< lead in all kinds of pranks and capers — W.A.White >
b. : performance, activity, pursuit
3. slang : an illegal or questionable escapade : criminal action : crime
< an improbable jewel robbery called a caper in the jungle patois — Robert Hatch >
4. : three quick jumps in morris dancing followed by a leap with one leg forward and the other back
IV. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Dutch kaper, from kapen to privateer, from kaap privateering, probably from Frisian, from Old Frisian kāp trade; akin to Old High German kouf trade — more at cheap
1. archaic : privateer
2. archaic : pirate
V. \ˈkāpər, -ˈä-\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Scottish Gaelic ceapaire, probably from ceap shoemaker's last, clog on an animal's foot, pair of stocks, akin to Middle Irish cepp block, from Latin cippus stake, post — more at cepe
chiefly Scotland : a piece of buttered bread usually with cheese on it |