sb.1 Also 6 cappar. [f. CAP sb. and v. + -ER1.]
† 1. A capmaker. Obs.
1389. Eng. Gilds (1870), 12. Philippo atte Vyne, Cappere, ciui Londonie.
1488–9. Act 4 Hen. VII., ix. No hatter nor capper … [shall] put to sell any hatte … above the price of xxd.
1574. Ludlow Churchw. Acc. (Camden), 158. Richarde Philipes, capper.
1581. W. Stafford, Exam. Compl., i. (1876), 14. He … bryngeth wyth him … a Capper of the same towne.
1677. Yarranton, Engl. Improv., 162. The benefit that may come … to the Cappers of Bewdley.
1805. Luccock, Nat. Wool, 67. In the reign of Elizabeth the cappers made a violent struggle to counteract the trade of their rivals.
2. One who caps; in various senses of the verb.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xviii. (1617), 320. A thousand flatterers, and as many crouchers and cappers.
1850. L. Hunt, Autobiog., 100. An excellent capper of verses.
1876. Mid-Yorksh. Gloss. (E. D. S.), Capper, an extinguisher.
3. dial. A person or thing who ‘caps’ or ‘beats’ all others; a thing which ‘beats’ one’s comprehension.
1790. Mrs. Wheeler, Westmld. Dial. (1840), 13. Nea yan knas what it means, it’s a capper.
1802. R. Anderson, Cumbld. Ball., 52. Then at dancin, O he was a capper!
1868. E. Waugh, in Lanc. Gloss. That’s a capper of a tale, as heaw!
1877. Holderness Gloss. It’s a capper wheear mah knife’s gone teeah.
