Capuchin. World English Historical Dictionary

Capuchin. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1893, rev. 2025. Capuchin

sb. (and attrib.) Also -ine. [a. 16th c. F. capuchin (now capucin), ad. It. capuccino, f. capuccio, capuche hood: see above.]

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  1.  A friar of the order of St. Francis, of the new rule of 1528. So called from the sharp-pointed capuche, adopted first in 1525, and confirmed to them by Pope Clement VII. in 1528.

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1599.  Marston, Sco. Villanie, I. ii. 178. When impropriat gentles will turn Capuchine.

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1603.  Bp. Hall, Serm., v. 5. More strict and Capuchin-like.

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1712.  trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 163. The invention of Friar Auge the Capuchin.

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1771.  Smollett, Humph. Cl. (1785), I. 63/2. He … traversed … France, in the disguise of a Capuchin.

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1876.  Bancroft, Hist. U. S., II. xl. 494. The Capuchin missionary.

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  2.  ‘A female garment, consisting of a cloak and hood, made in imitation of the dress of capuchin friars; whence its name’ (J.).

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[1706.  trans. C’tess D’Aunoy’s Trav., 5. Wrapping up their Heads in their Hooded-Gowns, they seemed to me to be Thieves disguised in Capuchins.]

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1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, Wks. 1775, III. 72. The young lady had on her hat and capuchin. Ibid. (1752), Covent Gard. Jrnl., 9 May. Within my memory the ladies … covered their lovely necks with a Cloak; this was exchanged for the manteel, this again was succeeded by the pelorine, the pelorine by the neckatee, the neckatce by the capuchine, which hath now stood its ground a long time.

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1858.  Thackeray, Virgin., I. 377.

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  b.  = CAPUCHE, hood.

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1834.  Planché, Brit. Costume, 322. In … 1752 we find a successor to the hood in the capuchin.

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1887.  Cornh. Mag., March, 266. Attached to the collar of the coat, and hanging midway down the back, is the uncouth capuchin.

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  3.  A plant, Impatiens.

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1756.  P. Browne, Jamaica, 322. The Capuchine or Balsamine [Impatiens] … introduced to Jamaica many years ago.

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  4.  Capuchin monkey, an American monkey (Cebus capucinus) with black hair at the back of the head, looking something like a cowl; Capuchin pigeon, a sub-variety of the Jacobin pigeon, with a range of inverted feathers on the back of the head, suggesting a cowl or hood.

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1785.  J. E. Smith, in Leisure Ho. (1883), June, 353/2. The Capuchin monkey … whose horrid yellings are intolerable to the ears.

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1855.  H. Spencer, Princ. Psychol. (1872), I. I. i. 11. The movements of the little Capuchin monkey.

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1855.  Owen, Skel. & Teeth, 300. Capucin-monkey (Cebus).

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1735.  J. Moore, Columb., in Tegetmeier, Pigeons, xvi. (1867), 146. Under the title of the Capuchine Moore alludes to a breed which is evidently nothing more than an inferior or cross-bred Jacobine.

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  5.  Capuchin’s beard, a variety of endive used for salad; Capuchine capers, see CAPER sb.1 3.

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1861.  Delamer, Kitch. Gard., 111. Barbe de Capucin, or Capuchin’s Beard, is consumed in large quantities in Paris during winter and early spring. It is the same thing as the foregoing chicory.

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