[app. abbreviated from CAPRIOLE sb.: Florio has It. ‘capriola a capriole or caper in dancing.’ Cf. the vb.; also cab from cabriolet.] A frolicsome leap, like that of a playful kid; a frisky movement, esp. in dancing; said also of horses; fig. a fantastic proceeding or freak.
1592. Greene, Upst. Courtier, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 248. You, Maister Usher of the dauncing schoole,… stand upon your tricks and capers.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. iv. 55. We that are true Louers, runne into strange capers.
1712. Pope, Spect., No. 408, ¶ 5. An Hour in Secret, wherein he had his Frisks and Capers.
1856. Olmsted, Slave States, 68. Jane [a horse] … gave a little sympathizing caper.
b. To cut a caper or capers: to dance in a frolicsome way, to act fantastically. † To cut a caper on nothing: to be hanged.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., I. iii. 129. And. Faith, I can cut a caper. To. And I can cut the mutton too’t.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. /262. By his high dancing and cutting of Capers … he did … sprain a vein.
1708. Motteux, Rabelais, IV. xvi. Two of the honestest Gentlemen in Catchpole-land had been made to cut a Caper on nothing.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 4, ¶ 8. He can Dance, though he does not cut Capers.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. xv. 260. Executing splendid somersets, and cutting every species of caper.
2. Comb. caper-cut, the cutting of a caper; caper-cutting a., that cuts capers; caper-witted a., of frivolous or unsteady mind.
a. 1626. Fletcher, Love’s Pilgr. My poor child … Your caper-cutting son has run away with.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams (1693), I. 227 (D.). Whatsoever any Caper-witted Man may observe.
1875. Browning, Aristoph. Apol., 361. Those flute-girls—trash who … fed eye with caper-cuts.
