Ca"per (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Capered p. pr. & vb. n. capering.] [From older capreoll to caper, cf. F. se cabrer to prance; all ultimately fr. L. caper, capra, goat. See Capriole.]
To leap or jump about in a sprightly manner; to cut capers; to skip; to spring; to prance; to dance.
He capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Ca"per, n.
A frolicsome leap or spring; a skip; a jump, as in mirth or dancing; a prank.
To cut a caper, to frolic; to make a sportive spring; to play a prank.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Ca"per, n. [D. kaper.]
A vessel formerly used by the Dutch, privateer.
Wright.
© Webster 1913.
Ca"per, n. [F. capre, fr. L. capparis, Gr. ; cf. Ar. & Per. al-kabar.]
1.
The pungent grayish green flower bud of the European and Oriental caper (Capparis spinosa), much used for pickles.
2. Bot.
A plant of the genus Capparis; -- called also caper bush, caper tree.
The Capparis spinosa is a low prickly shrub of the Mediterranean coasts, with trailing branches and brilliant flowers; -- cultivated in the south of Europe for its buds. The C. sodada is an almost leafless spiny shrub of central Africa (Soudan), Arabia, and southern India, with edible berries.
Bean caper. See Bran caper, in the Vocabulary. -- Caper sauce, a kind of sauce or catchup made of capers.
© Webster 1913.