caper Definition

caper¹
verb

intr
capered, capering
1. To jump or dance about playfully.

Thesaurus: cavort, frolic, skip, leap, romp, bounce, dance.

noun

1. A playful jump.
2. old use
A playful trick or joke.
Thesaurus: prank, antic, escapade, lark, stunt, jest, revel; mischief, high jinks.
3. derog
A scheme, activity, etc, especially something dishonest or illegal.

Etymology: 16c: probably abbreviated from capriole.

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caper²
noun

1. A small deciduous spiny shrub, native to S Europe, which has oval slightly fleshy leaves and conspicuous white or lilac flowers with a large number of long purple stamens.
2. A young flower bud of this plant, pickled in vinegar and used as a condiment.

Etymology: 14c as capers (mistaken as a plural): from Latin capparis, from Greek kapparis.