capo

1
[ key-poh ]

noun,plural ca·pos.
  1. any of various devices for a guitar, lute, banjo, etc., that when clamped or screwed down across the strings at a given fret will raise each string a corresponding number of half tones.

  2. the nut of a guitar, lute, banjo, etc.

Origin of capo

1
1875–80; <Italian, shortening of capotastocapotasto

Other definitions for capo (2 of 2)

capo2
[ kah-poh, kap-oh ]

noun,plural ca·pos.
  1. the chief of a branch of the Mafia.

Origin of capo

2
1960–65; <Italian: head, leader <Vulgar Latin *capum for Latin caput;cf. chief

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British Dictionary definitions for capo (1 of 2)

capo1

/ (ˈkeɪpəʊ, ˈkæpəʊ) /


nounplural -pos
  1. a device fitted across all the strings of a guitar, banjo, etc, so as to raise the pitch of each string simultaneously: Also called: capo tasto (ˈkæpəʊ ˈtæstəʊ) Compare barré

Origin of capo

1
from Italian capo tasto head stop

British Dictionary definitions for capo (2 of 2)

capo2

/ (ˈkæpəʊ, Italian ˈkapo) /


nounplural -pos
  1. the presumed title of a Mafia leader

Origin of capo

2
Italian: head

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012