Main Entry:

¹ca·per

Pronunciation:

\ˈkā-pər\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

back-formation from earlier capers (taken as a plural), from Middle English caperis, from Latin capparis, from Greek kapparis

Date:

14th century

1: any of a genus (Capparis of the family Capparidaceae, the caper family) of low prickly shrubs of the Mediterranean region ; especially : one (C. spinosa) cultivated for its buds2: one of the greenish flower buds or young berries of the caper pickled and used as a seasoning or garnish