The O.E. “gol-sheaf.” The crowning point.

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1800.  Goodrich a cap-sheaf, won’t be led.—The Aurora (Phila.), April 8.

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1815.  This is the crowner, the cap-sheaf.—Mass. Spy, May 31.

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1823.  But here comes the cap sheaf.—The Yankee, Jan. 23 (Portland, Maine).

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1836.  “THE CAP SHEAF.” Heading of an item concerning prices of land in Michigan City.—Phila. Public Ledger, July 14.

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1851.  The placing the cap-sheaf to all this blundering business was reserved for the scientific Frederick Cuvier.—H. Melville, ‘The Whale,’ chap. lv. p. 296. (N.E.D.)

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1856.  Of all the strains ever I heerd on I should think that was the cap sheaf.—Whitcher, ‘The Widow Bedott Papers,’ No. 9.

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1856.  Amelia herself has n’t come out much of a character as yet in these Observations—and she the cap-sheaf of every body.—Knick Mag., xlviii. 508 (Nov.).

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1859.  When it came to the cap-sheaf—when there was a fair opportunity of extending the last vote of welcome to the expected sister State—when there was chance to put the apex upon freedom’s pyramid—he was not there!—S. S. Cox, ‘Eight Years in Congress,’ p. 79 (1865).

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1862.  

        A knee-high lad, I used to plot an’ plan
An’ think ’t wuz life’s cap-sheaf to be a man.
Lowell, ‘Biglow Papers,’ 2nd S., No. 6.    

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1869.  Ike’s bull took the prize. That put the cap sheaf on for Bill. He was jest about as much riled as a feller could be.—Mrs. Stowe, ‘Oldtown Stories’ (‘The Bull Fight’).

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1873.  Of all the painted, and frizzled, and ruffled, and humped-up and laced-down critters I ever see, she was the cap sheaf.—Marietta Holley, ‘My Opinions and Betsy Bobbet’s,’ p. 337 (Bartlett).

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