Added 9 October 2026
cape
/keɪp/ noun
In Latin: promunturium, promontorium Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about cape at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A strip of land projecting into a body of water.
- A sleeveless garment like a cloak but shorter.
Origin
From Middle English cape, gappe, cap, from Old French cap (“cape, headland”), from Latin caput (“head”). Compare Old Norse kobbi (“islet, small cape”). Doublet of capo, caput, chef, and chief, and distantly with head and Howth. For sense development, compare English ness (“a promontory point, cape”) from a root related to nose, Bulgarian нос (nos) (the same PIE root). Also compare coast (<< Latin costa).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)