SINCE 1828
dictionary
thesaurus
view recents

capriole

noun
Save Word
cap·​ri·​ole | \ ˈka-prē-ˌōl How to pronounce capriole (audio) \

Definition of capriole

1 : a playful leap : caper
2 : a vertical leap by a trained horse that is made with a backward kick of the hind legs at the height of the leap

Other Words from capriole

capriole intransitive verb

First Known Use of capriole

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for capriole

Middle French or Old Italian; Middle French capriole, from Old Italian capriola, from capriolo roebuck, from Latin capreolus goat, roebuck, from capr-, caper he-goat; akin to Old English hæfer goat, Greek kapros wild boar

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about capriole

Time Traveler for capriole

Time Traveler

The first known use of capriole was in 1594

See more words from the same year

Statistics for capriole

Cite this Entry

“Capriole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capriole. Accessed 1 Mar. 2021.

Style: MLA
MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster

More from Merriam-Webster on capriole

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for capriole

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about capriole

Comments on capriole

What made you want to look up capriole? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

gazette

Listen to the pronunciation of gazette

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

February 2021 Words of the Day Quiz

  • squirrel in winter
  • Which is a synonym of perdure?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Typeshift

Anagram puzzles meet word search.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games