cape

1 of 3

noun (1)

often attributive
1
: a point or extension of land jutting out into water as a peninsula or as a projecting point
2
often capitalized : cape cod cottage

cape

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a sleeveless outer garment or part of a garment that fits closely at the neck and hangs loosely over the shoulders
2
: the short feathers covering the shoulders of a fowl see duck illustration

cape

3 of 3

verb

caped; caping; capes
1
intransitive : to act as a defender or supporter
usually used with for
[Billie] Eilish, for one, has been caping for the environment for years now, decreeing Gen-Z the saviors of the earth …Brenna Ehrlich
… the players are caping for [Mike] Pegues [basketball coach] and the rest of the staff, and admitting their role in Louisville's struggles to open the season.Matthew McGavic
2
transitive : to remove the head and the hide of an animal for preserving or mounting as a trophy
For a shoulder mount, most won't be comfortable with caping the deer without risking damage, so it's best to then take it to a professional taxidermist.kdvr.com
often used with out
There are different methods for caping an animal out, but the general idea is to remove the skin from the upper half of the body in a single piece.Eric Barker

Examples of cape in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Glover is now set to re-don his iconic cape to further expand on the Lando lore, writing a movie about everyone's favorite space-faring f-boy with his brother Stephen Glover. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2024 Her chrome design, styled with Jimmy Choo shoes, also featured a knotted asymmetrical halter-neckline and floor-sweeping cape. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Elsa Schiaparelli was known for embracing surrealism and avant-garde elements in her designs, as well as motifs that highlighted her love of astronomy and astrology; her famed 1938 Zodiac collection included a stunning cape embroidered with celestial objects. Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2024 The shocking predation event took place in Mossel Bay, situated along South Africa’s western cape. Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024 One swirls Mandarina’s cape around for a final twirl. Toby Muse, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024 Not all heroes wear capes; some wear fringe leather jackets and sparkly denim skirts and finesse corporate execs into doing their bidding with Southern charm and homemade muffins. Jen Yamato, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2024 Inspired by the hit movie, Elsa rocks her signature side braid, long cape, and sparkling gown. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 By Marc Hogan Almost one-third of the way through Usher’s performance at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, Alicia Keys appeared, attached to a billowing red cape and seated at a matching piano. Marc Hogan, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2024
Verb
Rachael's scandal became even more of a major news story after Chris Harrison decided to use his platform to cape for her while simultaneously belittling former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay. Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 26 Feb. 2021 See how the people came together to cape for Labelle’s legacy below. Keyaira Boone, Essence, 26 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cape.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English cap, from Anglo-French cape, from Old Occitan cap, from Latin caput head — more at head

Noun (2)

probably from Spanish capa cloak, from Late Latin cappa head covering, cloak

Verb

derivative of cape entry 2, in sense 1 alluding to the cape worn by superheros such as Superman who defend the innocent; in sense 2 alluding to the shape of the hide cut in this manner

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1758, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1957, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of cape was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cape

Cite this Entry

“Cape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cape. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cape

1 of 2 noun
: a point of land that extends out into the sea or a lake

cape

2 of 2 noun
: a sleeveless garment worn so as to hang over the shoulders, arms, and back
Etymology

Noun

Middle English cap "cape, point of land," derived from an early Occitan word cap (same meaning), from Latin caput "head" — related to capital

Noun

probably from Spanish capa "cloak," from Latin cappa "head covering, cloak" — related to cap, chapel, chaperon, cope entry 1, escape

More from Merriam-Webster on cape

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