Cap

Cap, kap, n. a woman's head-dress of muslin, or the like: a boy's head-dress, any kind of unbrimmed covering for the head: a cap-like covering of any kind: a cover: the top.—v.t. to put on a cap, as the official cap of a degree in some colleges: to outdo or surpass: to cover the end or top: to raise the cap in token of respect:—pr.p. cap′ping; pa.p. capped.—n. Cap′-case, a small travelling-case, a chest.—Cap and bells, the characteristic marks of a professional jester; Cap a story, quotation, verse, &c., to follow one up with another, or with its proper continuation or conclusion; Cap in hand, symbolic of reverence or submission; Cap of liberty, or Phrygian bonnet, the conical cap given to a Roman slave on enfranchisement, now the symbol of republicanism; Cap of maintenance (see Maintenance).—A feather in one's cap, something giving distinction: something to be proud of.—Black cap, that put on by the judge before pronouncing sentence of death; College cap, the so-called square mortarboard, or trencher-cap, worn at English colleges.—Percussion cap, a small copper cylinder, closed at one end, for conveniently holding the detonating powder which is exploded by the act of percussion in percussion-arms.—Set one's cap at, of a woman, to set herself to captivate a man's fancy.—The cap fits, the allusion hits or suits; Throw up one's cap, in token of immoderate joy. [A.S. cæppe—Low L. cappa, a cape or cope.]