Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 2.pdf/42

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Caper-Juice, subs. (American).—Whiskey. [From caper, a freak or antic + juice.] For synonyms, see Drinks.

1888. Portland Transcript, 29 Feb. Say, fellers, let's take a leetle mo' uv the caper juice. [They drink again. Sam and the girl exchange affectionate glances.]

Caper-Merchant, subs. (old).—A dancing master. [From caper, a frolicsome leap or step, + merchant.] Also called a hop-merchant (q.v. for synonyms).

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. [Quoted as above.]

Capital, To work capital, verbal phr. (old).—To commit an offence punishable with death.

1878. Charles Hindley, Life and Times of James Catnach. And though I don't work capital, And do not weigh my weight, sirs, Who knows but that in time I shall.

Capivi or Capivvy (vulgar).—Balsam copaiba, a popular remedy for clap.

To cry capivvy (sporting).—To be persecuted to the death, or very near it. In Handley Cross [1843] Mr. Jorrocks promises to make the foxes cry capivvy.

Capon, subs. (popular).—Primarily, a red herring; but applied to other kinds of fish, herrings now receiving the distinctive cognomen of Yarmouth capons. The usage is a very old one, and it is notable that Glasgow Magistrate, another name for a red herring, was formerly Glasgow capon.

c. 1640. J. Smyth, Hundred of Berkeley (1885), 319. The Sole wee call our Seuverne Capon. [m.]

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Yarmouth capon a Red Herring.

1719. Ramsey, Hamilton, II., iii. A Glasgow capon and a fadge ye thought a feast. [m.]

1812. W. Tennant, Anster F., iv. Each to his jaws A good Crail's capon holds [note 'a dried haddock']. [m.]

Cappadochio, Caperdochy, or Caperdewsie, subs. (old).—Nares says 'a cant term for a prison.' [The same authority suggests that it is a corruption of Cappadocia: 'The king of Cappadocia, says Horace, was rich in slaves, but had little money.'] For synonyms, see Cage.

1600. Heywood, I. Edw. IV. My son's in Dybell here, in Caperdochy, i' the gaol.

1607. W. S., Puritan, in Supp. Shaks., II., 510 (n.). How captain Idle? my old aunt's son, my dear kinsman, in Cappadochio?

1663. Butler, Hudibras, I., ii., 832. I here engage myself to loose ye, and free your heels from caperdewsie.

Capper, subs. (American thieves').—1. A confederate; at cards one who makes false bids in order to encourage a genuine player. [See Cap, verb, sense 1.]

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 319. In the West a striker is not only a shoulder-hitter, as might be suspected, but a runner for gambling establishments, who must be as ready to strike down a complaining victim as to ensnare an unsuspecting stranger Cappers they are called, when the game is the famous Three-Card Monte.

1881. New York Slang Dictionary. Gamblers are called knights of the green cloth, and their lieutenants, who are sent out after greenhorns, are called decoys, cappers, and steerers.

2. (auctioneers').—A dummy bidder whose function is either to start the bidding or to run up the price of articles for sale.

Capper-Clawing.—See Clapper-clawing.