[16th c. ad. F. cape (cappe), ad. Sp. capa or It. cappa, in same sense. Cotgr., 1611, has ‘cape, a shorte and sleeueless cloake or garment, that hath instead of a cape, a capuche behind it.’]
† 1. A Spanish cloak (with a hood). Obs.
1565–78. Cooper, Thesaurus, Chlamys, a cloke: a Spanish cape.
1580. Baret, Alv., C 63. A spanishe cape: a cloke with an hoode.
2. The tippet of a cloak or similar garment, being an additional outer piece attached to it at the neck and hanging loose over the shoulders (e.g., in old riding-cloaks, infants’ pelisses, etc.).
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iii. 140. I said a gowne … With a small compast cape.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 199. Leaues … resembling the cape of a cloke.
1818. Byron, Juan, I. cxxxiv. The mountains … clap a white cape on their mantles blue.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, III. 39. Having the cape of [his riding cloak] drawn up.
3. A separate article of attire, being a kind of short loose sleeveless cloak, fitting round the neck and falling over the shoulders as a protection against rain or cold. Waterproof capes of this kind are in common use.
[1611. in Heath, Grocers’ Comp. (1869), 92. Or any other garments, safe only a cape of veluet.]
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 49, ¶ 3. He … buttoned up his cape, and went forwards.
1837. Hawthorne, Twice-told T. (1851), II. xii. 190. To see the stream of ladies, gliding along the slippery sidewalks, with … quilted hoods, boas, and sable capes.
1862. Miss Yonge, C’tess Kate, vii. 117. Adelaide had meantime picked out a nice black silk cape.
1885. Law Rep., 14 Queen’s B. Div., 274. Such rain as they … caught in their oilskin capes.
Mod. A policeman in his waterproof cape. The fur capes at present worn by ladies.
4. Comb., as cape-bonnet, -cloak, -coat.
a. 1613. Overbury, A Wife (1638), 71. A picketooth in his Hat, a capecloak, and a long stocking.
1691. Lond. Gaz., No. 2631/4. A thin flaxen Hair’d Man, with a black Hat … a brown Frize Cape-Coat.
1870. Lowell, Among my Bks., Ser. I. (1873), 247. Decanting secrets out of the mouth of one cape-bonnet into that of another.
