caparison

1 of 2

noun

ca·​par·​i·​son kə-ˈper-ə-sən 

-ˈpa-rə-

1

a

: an ornamental covering for a horse

b

: decorative trappings and harness

2

: rich clothing : adornment

caparison

2 of 2

verb

caparisoned; caparisoning; caparisons

transitive verb

: to provide with or as if with a rich ornamental covering : adorn

the trees stood majestically caparisoned, with their innumerable leaves gilt

—Virginia Woolf

Did you know?

Caparison first embellished English in the 1500s, when we borrowed it from the Middle French caparaçon. Early caparisons were likely used to display the heraldic colors of a horseman, and in some cases may also have functioned as protective covering for the horse. In British India, it was elephants, not horses, that were decked out with caparisons-and to this day both animals can still be seen in such attire during parades and circuses. It did not take long for caparison to come to refer to the ornate clothing worn by a man or woman. Caparison also serves English as a verb, a use first recorded in Shakespeare when Richard III commanded, "Come, bustle, bustle; caparison my horse."

Synonyms

Noun

• array
• best
• bravery
• feather
• finery
• frippery
• full dress
• gaiety
• gayety
• glad rags
• regalia

Verb

• apparel
• array
• attire
• bedeck
• clothe
• costume
• deck (out)
• do up
• dress
• dress up
• enrobe
• garb
• garment
• get up
• gown
• habit
• invest
• rig (out)
• robe
• suit
• tog (up or out)
• toilet
• vesture

Examples of caparison in a Sentence

Noun

attended the masquerade ball in the caparison of an Indian maharaja

horses dressed in Old-West caparison for the parade

Verb

used to seeing him in a T-shirt and jeans, we were startled by the sight of strapping youth caparisoned for the prom in a tuxedo

the state's rolling hills are even more becoming when they are caparisoned in the glorious colors of autumn

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French caparaçon, from Old Spanish caparazón

First Known Use

Noun

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1594, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

caparison

1 of 2 noun

ca·​par·​i·​son kə-ˈpar-ə-sən 

1

: an ornamental covering for a horse

2

: fancy clothing or decoration

caparison

2 of 2 verb

: to dress with or as if with fancy clothes