subs. (thieves’).—1. A false cover to a tossing coin, called a COVER-DOWN. The cap showed either head or tail as it was left on or taken off. Obsolete.
2. (old).—The proceeds of an improvised collection. [Cf., ‘to send round the cap or hat.’]
1851. LANDON, Eureka; A Sequel to Lord John Russell’s Post-Bag, 21. What amount of CAP is realized out of an average field? [M.]
3. (Westminster School).—The amount of the collection at Play and Election dinners. [From the College cap being passed round on the last night of Play for contributions. Cf., ‘to send round the CAP.’]
Verb (thieves’).—1. To stand by a friend; to take part in any undertaking; to lend a hand. Grose has ‘to take one’s oath.’
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. I will CAP downright; I will swear home.
2. (public schools’ and university).—To take off or touch one’s hat in salutation; also TO CAP TO and TO CAP IT.
1593. H. SMITH, Sermons (1871), I., 203. How would they CAP me were I in velvets. [M.]
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, p. 23, s.v. BORE. Other bores are to attend a sermon at St. Mary’s on Sunday … to CAP a fellow.
CAP ONE’S LUCKY, verbal phr. (American thieves’).—To run away. For synonyms, see AMPUTATE.
CAP or CAST ONE’S SKIN, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To strip naked. For synonyms, see PEEL.
TO SET ONE’S CAP AT, phr. (colloquial).—To set oneself to gain the affections. Said only of women.
1772. R. GRAVES, The Spiritual Quixote, bk. III. ch. xi. I know several young ladies, who would be very happy in such an opportunity of SETTING THEIR CAPS AT him, I can tell you.
1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, Act i., Sc. 1. Well, if he refuse, … I’ll only break my glass for its flattery; SET MY CAP to some newer fashion, and look out for some less difficult admirer.
1846. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, ch. iii. The wily old fellow said to his son, ‘Have a care, Joe; that girl is SETTING HER CAP AT you.’
TO CAP A QUOTATION, ANECDOTE, PROVERB, etc., phr. (colloquial).—To fit with a second from the same, or another, author; to ‘go one better’ in the way of anecdote or legend.
1584. PEELE, The Arraignment of Paris, iv., ii. (1829), 48. Sh’ath CAPT his answer in the cue. [M.]
1856. R. A. VAUGHAN, Hours with the Mystics (1860), I., i. v. Now you come to Shakspeare, I must CAP your quotation with another. [M.]
TO PULL CAPS, phr. (colloquial).—To wrangle in an unseemly way.—Said only of women.
1763. COLMAN, The Deuce is in Him, I., in wks. (1777) IV., 120. A man that half the women in town would PULL CAPS for.
1771. SMOLLETT, The Expedition of Humphry Clinker, l. 19. At length, they fairly proceeded to PULLING CAPS, and every thing seemed to presage a general battle.
17[?]. WOLCOT, Peter Pindar, p. 140.
| Behold our lofty duchesses PULL CAPS, | |
| And give each other’s reputation raps, | |
| As freely as the drabs of Drury’s school. |
1824. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. vii. Well, dearest Rachel, we will not PULL CAPS about this man.
