cape

noun

a sleeveless garment of various lengths, fastened around the neck and falling loosely from the shoulders, worn separately or attached to a coat or other outer garment.

the capa of a bullfighter.

verb (used with object)

(of a matador or capeador during a bullfight) to induce and guide the charge of (a bull) by flourishing a capa.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English (north); Old English -cāp (see cope²), reinforced in 16th century by Spanish capa < Late Latin cappa hooded cloak, cope²

Related forms

caped, adjective

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Cape is one of our favorite verbs.

So is subtilize. Does it mean:

to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.

to bark; yelp.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged

noun

a piece of land jutting into the sea or some other large body of water.

Northeastern U.S. Cape Cod.

Cape of Good Hope.

capeskin.

verb (used without object)

Nautical. (of a ship) to have good steering qualities.

adjective

( initial capital letter ) pertaining to the Cape of Good Hope or to South Africa: a Cape diamond.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English cap < Middle French < Old Provençal < Vulgar Latin *capum for Latin caput head

Synonyms
1. point, promontory, headland, spit.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To cape

Collins

World English Dictionary

cape¹ (keɪp)

—n
1.	a sleeveless garment like a cloak but usually shorter
2.	a strip of material attached to a coat or other garment so as to fall freely, usually from the shoulders

[C16: from French, from Provençal capa, from Late Latin cappa; see cap]

cape² (keɪp)

—n
	a headland or promontory

[C14: from Old French cap, from Old Provençal, from Latin caput head]

Cape (keɪp)

—n
1.	the SW region of South Africa, in Western Cape province
2.	See Cape of Good Hope

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

cape

"garment," O.E. capa, from L.L. cappa "cape, hooded cloak" (see cap). The modern word and meaning were a reborrowing (1565) from Fr., from Sp., in reference to a Sp. style.

cape

"promontory," late 14c., from M.Fr. cap, from L. caput "headland, head" (see head). The Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa has been the Cape since 1667. Cape Cod, in reference to houses reminiscent of New England architecture, is 1916. Sailors called low cloud banks that

could be mistaken for landforms on the horizon Cape fly-away (1769).

American Heritage

Science Dictionary

cape

(kāp) Pronunciation Key
A point or head of land projecting into a body of water.

Example sentences

As the first frost arrives, a fashion look has been revived: the cape.

The cape looked like two stiff bat wings attached to his arms.

The fashion cape does not cover the front to any appreciable degree.

The upper cape is the section of cape cod closest to the mainland.

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Matching Quote

"When the committee from Plymouth had purchased the territory of Eastham of the Indians, "it was demanded, who laid claim to Billingsgate?" which was understood to be all that part of the Cape north of what they had purchased. "The answer was, there was not any who owned it. 'Then,' said the committee, 'that land is ours.' The Indians answered, that it was." This was a remarkable assertion and admission. The Pilgrims appear to have regarded themselves as Not Any's representatives. Perhaps this was the first instance of that quiet way of "speaking for" a place not yet occupied, or at least not improved as much as it may be, which their descendants have practiced, and are still practicing so extensively. Not Any seems to have been the sole proprietor of all America before the Yankees. But history says, that when the Pilgrims had held the lands of Billingsgate many years, at length, "appeared an Indian, who styled himself Lieutenant Anthony," who laid claim to them, and of him they bought them. Who knows but a Lieutenant Anthony may be knocking at the door of the White House some day? At any rate, I know that if you hold a thing unjustly, there will surely be the devil to pay at last."

-Henry David Thoreau