caper

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A playful leap or hop.
2. n. A frivolous escapade or prank.
3. n. Slang An illegal plot or enterprise, especially one involving theft.
4. v. To leap or frisk about; frolic.
5. n. A usually spiny Mediterranean shrub (Capparis spinosa) having white to pale lilac flowers and dehiscent fruits with reddish pulp.
6. n. A pickled flower bud of this plant, used as a pungent condiment in sauces, relishes, and various other dishes.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To leap; skip or jump; prance; spring: as, to caper about (as a lamb or a child); “making a roan horse caper,” Tennyson, Lancelot and Elaine.
2. n. A leap; a skip or spring, as in dancing or mirth, or in the frolic of a kid or lamb, or a child; hence, a sportive or capricious action; a prank.
3. n. A plant, Capparis spinosa, the buds of which (called capers) are much used as a condiment. The bush is a low shrub, growing on old walls, in fissures of rocks, or among rubbish, in the countries bordering the Mediterranean. The buds are collected and preserved in vinegar. In some parts of Italy the unripe fruit is employed in the same way. Also called caper-bush or caper-plant, and formerly caper-tree.
4. n. Nautical, a light-armed vessel of the seventeenth century, used by the Dutch for privateering.

Wiktionary

1. n. A frolicsome leap or spring; a skip; a jump, as in mirth or dancing; a prank.
2. n. A crime, especially theft, or a narrative about such a crime.
3. v. To leap or jump about in a sprightly manner; to cut capers; to skip; to spring; to prance; to dance.
4. n. A vessel formerly used by the Dutch; privateer.
5. n. The pungent grayish green flower bud of the European and Oriental caper (Capparis spinosa), which is pickled and eaten.
6. n. A plant of the genus Capparis
7. n. Scotland the capercaillie.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To leap or jump about in a sprightly manner; to cut capers; to skip; to spring; to prance; to dance.
2. n. A frolicsome leap or spring; a skip; a jump, as in mirth or dancing; a prank.
3. n. A vessel formerly used by the Dutch, privateer.
4. n. The pungent grayish green flower bud of the European and Oriental caper (Capparis spinosa), much used for pickles.
5. n. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Capparis; -- called also caper bush, caper tree.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement
2. n. any of numerous plants of the genus Capparis
3. n. pickled flower buds used as a pungent relish in various dishes and sauces
4. n. a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement
5. n. a playful leap or hop
6. n. a crime (especially a robbery)
7. v. jump about playfully