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

That this caper results in a staggering amount of collateral damage — I mean, he shoots a lot of innocent people — makes him immediately unlikable, which I don’t think is the point; if anything, there’s some attempt to humanize him, give him some depth.

From Los Angeles Times

Directed by Mélanie Laurant, this nimble caper film is based on the real-life exploits of Bruno Sulak.

From Salon

This money-making caper dominates the second act of a show that is a bit overstretched.

From Los Angeles Times

Eventually, President Jimmy Carter approved the Canadian Caper - a plan which would see Mendez and Johnson pose as Canadian filmmakers scouting locations for a supposed Star Wars spin-off called Argo.

From BBC

A podcast released by the CIA which cast light on the operation - known as the Canadian Caper - included interviews with the Cold War-era spy.

From BBC