Cap /(kăp)/

Cap

n.
  1. A covering for the head
  2. The top, or uppermost part; the chief.
    Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.
  3. A respectful uncovering of the head.
    He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks.
  4. The whole top of the head of a bird from the base of the bill to the nape of the neck. (Zool.)
  5. Anything resembling a cap in form, position, or use (Arch.)
  6. A large size of writing paper; as, flat cap; foolscap; legal cap.

Phrases & Compounds
Cap of a cannon
a piece of lead laid over the vent to keep the priming dry; -- now called an apron.
Cap in hand
obsequiously; submissively.
Cap of liberty
See Liberty cap, under Liberty.
Cap of maintenance
a cap of state carried before the kings of England at the coronation. It is also carried before the mayors of some cities.
Cap money
money collected in a cap for the huntsman at the death of the fox.
Cap paper
A kind of writing paper including flat cap, foolscap, and legal cap.
Cap rock
The layer of rock next overlying ore, generally of barren vein material.
Flat cap
cap See Foolscap.
Forage cap
the cloth undress head covering of an officer of soldier.
Legal cap
a kind of folio writing paper, made for the use of lawyers, in long narrow sheets which have the fold at the top or “narrow edge.”
To set one's cap
to make a fool of one.
To set one's cap for
to try to win the favor of a man with a view to marriage.

Cap

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Capped; p. pr. & vb. n. Capping

  1. To cover with a cap, or as with a cap; to provide with a cap or cover; to cover the top or end of; to place a cap upon the proper part of; as, to cap a post; to cap a gun.
    The bones next the joint are capped with a smooth cartilaginous substance.
    — Derham.
  2. To deprive of cap. [Obs.]
  3. To complete; to crown; to bring to the highest point or consummation; as, to cap the climax of absurdity.
  4. To salute by removing the cap. [Slang. Eng.]
    Tom . . . capped the proctor with the profoundest of bows.
  5. To match; to mate in contest; to furnish a complement to; as, to cap text; to cap proverbs.
    Now I have him under girdle I'll cap verses with him to the end of the chapter.

Cap

v. i.
  1. To uncover the head respectfully.