Caparison

Caparison

A caparison is a covering, or cloth, laid over a horse or other animal, especially a pack animal, or horse of state. In modern times, it is used mainly for decoration in parades and for historical reenactments.

In the Middle Ages, caparisons were part of the horse armour known as barding, which was worn during war or tournament. They were adopted in the twelfth century in response to conditions of campaigning in the Crusades. An early depiction of a knight's horse wearing a caparison may be seen on the small Carlton-in-Lindrick knight figurine from the late 12th century.

Today, a caparison is used in bullfighting in the picador manner.

The word is Spanish, being an augmentative form of the Latin word "cape", "caput", "head".

ee also

* Horses in the Middle Ages
* Barding
* Horses in warfare


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Synonyms:
(for a horse), , , (e)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Caparison — Guitars est une entreprise japonaise de conception, fabrication ainsi que de design de guitares électriques. Présentation Caparison Guitars apparaît comme un concepteur de guitares électriques axées sur des sons modernes et généralement orientés… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Caparison — Ca*par i*son, n. [F. capara[,c]on, fr. Sp. caparazon a cover for a saddle, coach, etc.; capa cloak, cover (fr. LL. capa, cf. LL. caparo also fr. capa) + the term. azon. See {Cap}.] 1. An ornamental covering or housing for a horse; the harness or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • caparison — 1570s, cloth spread over a saddle, also personal dress and ornaments, from M.Fr. caparasson (15c., Mod.Fr. caparaçon), from Sp. caparazon, from augmentative of O.Prov. caparasso or M.L. caparo, the name of a type of cape worn by women, lit.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Caparison — Ca*par i*son, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Caparisoned}p. pr. & vb. n. {Caparisoning}.] [Cf. F capara[,c]onner.] [1913 Webster] 1. To cover with housings, as a horse; to harness or fit out with decorative trappings, as a horse. [1913 Webster] The steeds …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • caparison — ► NOUN ▪ an ornamental covering spread over a horse s saddle or harness. ► VERB (be caparisoned) ▪ be decked out in rich decorative coverings. ORIGIN Spanish caparazón saddlecloth , from capa hood …   English terms dictionary

  • caparison — [kə par′i sən, kə par′izən] n. [Fr caparaçon < OProv caparasso, large hooded cloak < capa: see CAPE1] 1. an ornamented covering for a horse; trappings 2. clothing, equipment, and ornaments; outfit vt. 1. to cover (a horse) with trappings 2 …   English World dictionary

  • caparison — 1. noun The often ornamental coverings for an animal, especially a horse or an elephant. 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 …   Wiktionary

  • caparison — /keuh par euh seuhn/, n. 1. a decorative covering for a horse or for the tack or harness of a horse; trappings. 2. rich and sumptuous clothing or equipment. v.t. 3. to cover with a caparison. 4. to dress richly; deck. [1585 95; < MF caparasson… …   Universalium

  • caparison — n 1. trappings, housings; harness, tack, tackle, rigging. 2. finery, frippery, fancy dress, adornment, ornamentation, investiture, Inf. full or fine feather, Brit. Inf. full fig, Sl. fancy duds, Sl. glad rags, Sl. heavy threads; (all of a… …   A Note on the Style of the synonym finder

  • caparison — ca•par•i•son [[t]kəˈpær ə sən[/t]] n. 1) a decorative covering for a horse or for the tack or harness of a horse; trappings 2) rich and sumptuous clothing or equipment 3) to cover with a caparison 4) to dress richly; deck • Etymology: 1585–95;… …   From formal English to slang

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