Caper \Ca"per\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Capered} p. pr. & vb. n.
   {capering}.] [From older capreoll to caper, cf. F. se cabrer
   to prance; all ultimately fr. L. caper, capra, goat. See
   {Capriole}.]
   To leap or jump about in a sprightly manner; to cut capers;
   to skip; to spring; to prance; to dance.
   
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         He capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth. --Shak.
   
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Caper \Ca"per\, n.
   A frolicsome leap or spring; a skip; a jump, as in mirth or
   dancing; a prank.
   
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   {To cut a caper}, to frolic; to make a sportive spring; to
      play a prank. --Shak.
      
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Caper \Ca"per\, n. [D. kaper.]
   A vessel formerly used by the Dutch, privateer. --Wright.
   
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Caper \Ca"per\, n. [F. c[^a]pre, fr. L. capparis, Gr. ?; cf. Ar.
   & Per. al-kabar.]
   1. The pungent grayish green flower bud of the European and
      Oriental caper ({Capparis spinosa}), much used for
      pickles.
      
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   2. (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Capparis}; -- called also
      {caper bush}, {caper tree}.
      
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   Note: The {Capparis spinosa} is a low prickly shrub of the
         Mediterranean coasts, with trailing branches and
         brilliant flowers; -- cultivated in the south of Europe
         for its buds. The {Capparis sodada} is an almost
         leafless spiny shrub of central Africa (Soudan),
         Arabia, and southern India, with edible berries.
         
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   {Bean caper}. See {Bran caper}, in the {Vocabulary}.

   {Caper sauce}, a kind of sauce or catchup made of capers.
      
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caper
     n 1: any of numerous plants of the genus Capparis
     2: pickled flower buds used as a pungent relish in various
        dishes and sauces
     3: a crime (especially a robbery); "the gang pulled off a bank
        job in St. Louis" [syn: {job}]
     4: a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement
        [syn: {antic}, {joke}, {prank}, {trick}, {put-on}]
     5: a playful leap or hop [syn: {capriole}]
     6: gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or
        amusement; "it was all done in play"; "their frolic in the
        surf threatened to become ugly" [syn: {play}, {frolic}, {romp},
         {gambol}]
     v : jump about playfully

88 Moby Thesaurus words for "caper":
   antic, beam, bob, bounce, burglary, capriole, caracole, carol,
   carry on, cavort, chirp, chirrup, clap hands, crime, curvet,
   cut a dido, cut capers, cut up, dance, delight, devilment, dido,
   disport, escapade, exult, falcade, filch, flounce, fool around,
   frisk, frolic, gambade, gambado, gambol, glory, glow, grab, heist,
   high jinks, hop, horse around, impishness, job, joy, jubilate,
   jump, jump about, lark, laugh, leap, lift, lilt, mischief,
   monkeyshine, monkeyshines, pinch, play, practical joke, prance,
   prank, radiate cheer, ramp, rejoice, revel, rip-off, robbery,
   roguery, rollick, romp, shenanigan, shenanigans, shines, sing,
   skip, skip for joy, smile, sparkle, sport, spring, steal, stunt,
   theft, tomfoolery, trick, trip, waggish trick, waggishness,
   whistle