caparison

Knight on caparisoned steed

English

Etymology

From Middle French caparaçon, from Old Spanish caparazón, from Old Provençal capairon.

Noun

caparison (plural caparisons)

1. The often ornamental coverings for an animal, especially a horse or an elephant.
   • 1861, Charlotte Guest, translator, The Mabinogion/The Dream of Rhonabwy.

     And the green of the caparison of the horse, and of his rider, was as green as the leaves of the fir-tree, and the yellow was as yellow as the blossom of the broom.

2. Gay or rich clothing.
   • Smollett

     My heart groans beneath the gay caparison.

Verb

caparison (third-person singular simple present caparisons, present participle caparisoning, simple past and past participle caparisoned)

1. To dress up a horse or elephant with ornamental coverings.
   • 1593, Shakespeare, Richard III, Act 5, Scene 3.

     Come, bustle, bustle; caparison my horse

See also

• Caparison on Wikipedia.Wikipedia