Also Sc. kaip-, cape-. [f. COPE sb.1 + STONE. The derivation is made certain by the northern forms in cape-, caip-; but the sense appears to be influenced by association with COP top, or in the northern form perhaps with cap: see CAP sb.1 10 b.] The top or head stone of a building; almost always fig. the crown, completion, finishing touch.
1567. in Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (1843), II. 401. Now sall yee see the kaip-stone of that worke wherof yee layed the foundatioun.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 133. The house of God shalbe builded in to it. Yea, it sall not lack … the verray cope stone.
c. 1719. R. Ker, Spring & Rise Ho. Queensberry, in Maidment, Sc. Pasquils (1868), 313. The superstructure was carried on, By shedding of the blood of men! And then the capestone its put on.
1782. Burns, Poor Mailie’s Elegy, i. The last sad cape-stane of his woes; Poor Mailie’s dead!
1828. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. III. (1863), 63. This elopement was the cope-stone of the admiral’s misfortunes.
1891. J. Clark Murray, in Educat. Rev., II. 58. Such an education of the will places the copestone on the whole educational building.
