From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Cap \Cap\ (k[a^]p), n. [OE. cappe, AS. c[ae]ppe, cap, cape,
hood, fr. LL, cappa, capa; perhaps of Iberian origin, as
Isidorus of Seville mentions it first: "Capa, quia quasi
totum capiat hominem; it. capitis ornamentum." See 3d {Cape},
and cf. 1st {Cope}.]
1. A covering for the head; esp.
(a) One usually with a visor but without a brim, for men
and boys;
(b) One of lace, muslin, etc., for women, or infants;
(c) One used as the mark or ensign of some rank, office,
or dignity, as that of a cardinal.
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2. The top, or uppermost part; the chief.
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Thou art the cap of all the fools alive. --Shak.
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3. A respectful uncovering of the head.
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He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks.
--Fuller.
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4. (Zool.) The whole top of the head of a bird from the base
of the bill to the nape of the neck.
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5. Anything resembling a cap in form, position, or use; as:
(a) (Arch.) The uppermost of any assemblage of parts; as,
the cap of column, door, etc.; a capital, coping,
cornice, lintel, or plate.
(b) Something covering the top or end of a thing for
protection or ornament.
(c) (Naut.) A collar of iron or wood used in joining
spars, as the mast and the topmast, the bowsprit and
the jib boom; also, a covering of tarred canvas at the
end of a rope.
(d) A percussion cap. See under {Percussion}.
(e) (Mech.) The removable cover of a journal box.
(f) (Geom.) A portion of a spherical or other convex
surface.
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6. A large size of writing paper; as, flat cap; foolscap;
legal cap.
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{Cap of a cannon}, a piece of lead laid over the vent to keep
the priming dry; -- now called an apron.
{Cap in hand}, obsequiously; submissively.
{Cap of liberty}. See {Liberty cap}, under {Liberty}.
{Cap of maintenance}, a cap of state carried before the kings
of England at the coronation. It is also carried before
the mayors of some cities.
{Cap money}, money collected in a cap for the huntsman at the
death of the fox.
{Cap paper}.
(a) A kind of writing paper including flat cap, foolscap,
and legal cap.
(b) A coarse wrapping paper used for making caps to hold
commodities.
{Cap rock} (Mining), The layer of rock next overlying ore,
generally of barren vein material.
{Flat cap}, cap See {Foolscap}.
{Forage cap}, the cloth undress head covering of an officer
of soldier.
{Legal cap}, a kind of folio writing paper, made for the use
of lawyers, in long narrow sheets which have the fold at
the top or "narrow edge."
{To set one's cap}, to make a fool of one. (Obs.) --Chaucer.
{To set one's cap for}, to try to win the favor of a man with
a view to marriage. [Colloq.]
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