cap-sill 
cap-sill (kap'sil), . The upper horizontal beam 
in the timber-framing of a bridge, viaduct, etc. 
Capsina (kap-si'uji), n. pi. [NL., < Capsus + 
-ina.] A group of heteropterous insects. See 
Capsida:. 
capsize (kap-slz'), v. ; pret. and pp. capsized, 
ppr. capsizing. [Origin unknown ; the Dan. 
kapsejse is from E.] I. intrans. To turn over 
or upset : as, take care that the boat does not 
capsize. 
The boat swept sheer over the dam with all on board, 
filling and capsizitly instantly. 
J. T. Trowbridge, Coupon Bonds, p. 299. 
II. trans. 1. To upset; overturn (a boat or 
vessel). 
What if carrying sail capsize the boat? 
Byron, Don Juan, ix. 18. 
2. To move (a hogshead or other vessel) for- 
ward by turning it alternately on the heads. 
Halliwcll. [Prov. Eng.] 
capsize (kap-slz'), n. [< capsize, v.] An up- 
set ; an overturn. 
cap-square (kap'skwar), n. In gun., one of the 
strong plates of iron or brass which are fitted 
over the trunnions of a gun and secure it on 
the carriage. See cut under gun-carriage. 
capstan (kap'stan), n. [Formerly also capstone, 
capstand (simulating stand), capstern (simulat- 
ing stern), once capstring (simulating string), 
capisten, caston (dial, capsal, q. v.); = MD. 
kapestant, D. kaapstander (simulating kaap- 
stander, a lighthouse, < kaap, MD. kape, = E. 
cape 2 , + slander, axletree, MD. stander, sttin- 
daerd, a column, pillar, mill-post, standard, D. 
standaard, a banner, = E. standard) = G. kabc- 
stan, < F. cabestan = Pr. cabestan, < Sp. cabc- 
strante, usually cabrestante (= Pg. cabrestante) 
(simulating cobra, a goat, an engine for throw- 
ing stones, + estante, a shelf, naut. a prop of 
a cross-beam, as adj. fixed, lit. standing, < L. 
stan(t-)s, ppr. of stare, stand), a capstan, prob. 
< cabestrar, < L. capistrare, tie with a halter, < 
capistrum (> Sp. cabestro = Pg. cabresto = It. 
capestro = Pr. cabestre = OF. chevestre, F. che- 
vetre), a halter, muzzle, band, < capere, hold : see 
capistrum and capable.] An apparatus work- 
ing on the principle of the wheel and axle, 
used for raising weights or applying power, it 
consists of an upright barrel, either smooth or having ribs 
called whelps, which are arranged about a spindle. Above 
the barrel is the 
capstan-head, 
which has holes 
to receive the 
ends of levers or 
bars by which the 
barrel is revolv- 
ed. At the bottom 
of the barrel is a 
pawl-head, with 
pawls to catch a 
ratchet-ring or 
pawl-rim, which 
is secured to the 
floor or platform. 
A capstan differs 
from a windlass 
in having a verti- 
cal instead of a 
horizontal axis. 
The capstan em- 
ployed to draw 
coal from pits is 
usually called a 
'in, and when 
Capstan. 
a. capstan-head ; b, barrel ; c, pawl-rim and 
pawls; d, capstan-bar. 
worked by horses a whim-gin. On board ship it is used 
for weighing the anchor, warping ship, etc. Chinese 
Capstan, a differential device for hoisting or hauling. It 
is the same as the differential windlass (which see, under 
windlass), except that its axis is vertical. Power-cap- 
Stan, a capstan in which, by the application of cog-wheels, 
great power may be gained at the expense of speed. 
Steam-capstan, a capstan turned by a steam-engine. 
To come up with the capstan, to turn it the contrary 
way, so as to slacken the rope about it. To heave at 
the capstan, to cause it to turn by pushing with the 
breast against the bars. To man the capstan, to place 
the sailors at it in readiness to heave. To pawl the 
capstan, to fix the pawls so as to prevent the capstan 
from recoiling. To rig the capstan, to prepare it for 
heaving by fixing the bars in the holes or otherwise. To 
surge the capstan, to slacken the rope wound round 
upon it. 
capstan-bar (kap'stan -bar), n. One of the 
levers, generally of wood, by which a capstan 
is turned. -TO swifter the capstan-bars, to fasten a 
small rope round the outer ends of all the capstan-bars 
before heaving round, so that they cannot be accidentally 
unshipped. 
capstan-barrel, . See capstan. 
capstanet, capstandt, . See capstan. 
capsternt, . See capstan. 
capstone (kap'ston), n. 1. In arc/;., the upper- 
most or finishing stone of a structure, as of a 
parapet, a turret, etc. Flat capstones, or flags, are 
often laid upon walls of bricks or small stones to protect 
the joints from infiltration of water, as well as to bind 
the structure together. 
810 
2. In zool., a fossil echinite (sea-urchin) of the 
genus Conulus: so named from its resemblance 
to a cap. 
capstringt, n. See capstan. 
capsula (kap'su-lii), n. ; pi. capsules (-le). [L.] 
Same as capsule. " 
capsulaescic (kap-su-les'ik), a. [< L. capsula 
(see capsule) + a;sc-ulus, horse-chestnut (see 
csculin), + -ic.] Derived from capsules of the 
horse-chestnut. Capsulaascic add, an acid found 
in the capsules of horse-chestnuts. 
capsular (kap'su-lar), a. [< L. capsula (see 
capsule) + -oc3.] Sollow, like a chest or cap- 
sule ; pertaining to or having the structure of 
a capsule. Capsular artery, the middle suprarenal 
artery. Capsular ligament, the ligament which sur- 
rounds every movable articulation, and contains the sy- 
novia like a bag. See diarthrosi*. Capsular vein, the 
suprarenal vein. 
capsulary (kap'su-la-ri), a. Same as capsular. 
capsulate, capsulated (kap'su-lat, -la-ted), a. 
[\ capsule + -ate*.] Inclosed in a capsule, or 
as in a chest or box. Also capsuled. 
capsule (kap'sul), n. [= D. G. Dan. Sw. kapsel, 
< F. capsule = Sp. Pg. It. capsula, < L. capsula, 
a small box or chest (cf . capsella), dim. of capsa, 
a box: see case 2 .] 1. A small casing, envelop, 
covering, etc., natural or artificial, usually thin 
or membranous ; a cover or container of some 
small object or quantity of matter. Specifi- 
cally 2. In hot., a dehiscent pod or seed-ves- 
sel, either membranous or woody, composed of 
Capsules, after dehiscence. 
a, asphodel ; b, argemone ; c, violet. 
two or more carpels, which at maturity becomes 
dry and opens by regular valves corresponding 
in number to the carpels, or twice as numerous. 
The term is sometimes applied to any dry dehiscent fruit, 
and even to the spore-cases of various cryptogamic plants. 
3. In chem. : (a) A small saucer made of clay for 
roasting samples of ores, or for melting them. 
(b) A small shallow vessel made of Berlin ware, 
platinum, etc., for evaporations, solutions, and 
the like. 4. In anat. and zool., a membrane 
or ligament inclosing some part or organ as 
in a bag or sac ; a saccular envelop or invest- 
ment : as, the capsule of the crystalline lens of 
the eye ; the capsule of a joint, as the hip. 5. 
In anat., some part or organ likened to a cap- 
sule: as, the adrenal capsules. 6. In Protozoa, 
the included perforated test of a radiolarian. 
7. In entom., a horny case inclosing the eggs 
of an insect, as those of the cockroach. Also 
called ootheca. 8. A cap of thin metal, such as 
tin-foil, put over the mouth of a corked bottle 
to preserve the cork from drying, wine of good 
quality when bottled was formerly sealed with wax upon 
the cork, but the use of the capsule is now almost univer- 
sal, the grower's or dealer's name or device being com- 
monly stamped upon it. 
9. A small gelatinous case or envelop in which 
nauseous medicines are inclosed to be swal- 
lowed. 10. The shell of a metallic cartridge or 
of a fulminating tube Adrenal capsule, an ad- 
renal(which see). Atrablliary capsule, the suprarenal 
capsule, or adrenal. Bonnet s capsule, the posterior 
part of the tunica vaginalis of the eye, behind the point of 
perforation of the tendons of the muscles of the eyeballs. 
Bowman's capsule, the capsule of a Malpighian body 
of the kidney. Capsule of Glisson, the sheath of con- 
uective tissue enveloping the branches of the portal vein, 
hepatic artery, and hepatic duct as they ramify in the liver. 
Capsule of the kidney, the smooth fibrous membrane 
closely investing the kidney, and forming its outer coat. 
Capsule of the lens, the transparent, elastic, brittle, and 
structureless membrane inclosing the lens of the eye. 
Central capsule, the capsule of a radiolarian. Exter- 
nal capsule, the layer of white nervous substance be- 
tween the claustrum and the putamen of the brain. In- 
ternal capsule, the layer of nerve-fibers passing upward 
in the brain from the crura cerebri to the cortex, between 
the caudate nucleus and the optic thalamus on the one 
side and the lenticular nucleus on the other. Marsupial 
capsule, in Pohjzoa (or Bryozoa), an individual of a colony 
serving only fur the reception of ova. Nldamental cap- 
sule, in conch., a case in which the embryos of certain 
mollusks are contained. 
The nidamental <'<ipxi(h'x [of the whelk, Buccimtm] are 
aggregated in roundish masses which, when thrown ashore 
and drifted by the wind, resemble corallines. Each cap- 
sule contains five or six young. 
S. P. Woodward, Mollusca, 2d ed., p. 219. 
captain 
Suprarenal capsule, a small flattened body, somewhat 
glandular in appearance, but with no duct, which in many 
animals surmounts the kidney. Also called suprarenal 
body and adrenal. See cut under kidney. Urticating 
capsule, a nematocyst, cuida, or thread-cell. 
capsuled (kap'sild), a. Same as capsulate. 
capsuliferous (k'ap-su-lif'e-rus), a. [< L. cap- 
sula (see capsule) + ferre = E. 6erl.] In hot. 
and :ool., bearing capsules. 
capsuligerous (kap-su-lij'e-rus), . [< L. cap- 
su/ii (see capsule) + genre, bear.] Same as 
capsuliferous. 
capsulitis (kap-su-li'tis), n. [NL.. < L. capsula 
(see capxule) + -itis.] Inflammation of the cap- 
sule of the lens of the eye. 
capsulogenous (kap-su-loj'e-nus), n. [< L. 
capsula (see capsule) + -genus, producing: see 
-genous.] Producing a capsule : specifically ap- 
plied to certain glands of earthworms, opening 
on the surface by papillae and supposed to assist 
in the secretion of the capsule or cocoon of 
those animals. 
capsulotomy (kap-su-lot'o-mi), n. [< L. cap- 
sula (see capsule) + MGr. rofiia, a cutting : see 
anatomy.'] In surg., incision of the capsule of 
the lens of the eye. 
Capsus (kap'sus), n. [NL. : said to be < Gr. 
KavTuv, gulp down ; cf. tyf, a gulping down.] 
A genus of insects, typical of the family Cap- 
sidce, founded, by Fabricius in 1803. As now re- 
stricted, it contains bugs usually of medium size and 
broadly ovate form, with moderate or narrow neck, per- 
fect wings and hemelytra, and second antennal joint long- 
est and clavate. C. trifaxciatus is an example. 
captt (kapt), p. a. [Pp. of cap*, r.] Overcome 
in argument. 
capt. An abbreviation of captain. 
captain (kap'tan), n. and .. [< ME. captain, 
eapitain, -ein, -eyn, = D. kapitein = Dan. kaptejn, 
kapitajn = Sw. kapten, < OF. eapitain, capitaine 
(vernacular form cheeetaine, >E. chieftain, q. v.), 
F. capitaine = Pr. capituni = Sp. capitan = Pg. 
capitao = U. capitano, < ML. capitanens, -anius, 
-anus, a captain (also, and prop., an adj., princi- 
pal, chief), < L. caput(capit-), head : see capital^, 
etc. Cf. headman and hetmati.] I. . 1. One 
who is at the head of or has authority over 
others; a chief; a leader; a commander, espe- 
cially in military affairs. In the Bible the term is 
applied to a king or prince, to a general or commander of 
an army, to the governor of a province, etc. 
Captain of the host of the Lord. Jos. v. 14. 
Anoint him to be captain over my people. 1 Sam. ix. 16. 
Great Mars, the captain of us all. 
Sltak., T. and C., Iv. 5. 
Great in council and great in war, 
Foremost captain of his time. 
Tennyson, Duke of Wellington. 
More specifically (n) In the army, the officer who com- 
mands a company, whether of infantry, cavalry, or artil- 
lery. (6) In the navy, an officer next in rank above a com- 
mander, and ranking in the United States service with a 
colonel, and in the British with a lieutenant-colonel, and 
after three years' service with a colonel, in the army. Offi- 
cers of this grade in the British service were formerly desig- 
nated pout-captain*, (c) The commander or master of a 
merchant vessel, (d) In some of the public schools of Eng- 
land, a title given to the senior scholar, (e) In base-ball, 
nHOWff. etc., the head or leader of the nine, the crew, or 
the body of players on one side. (/) In mining, the head 
man or superintendent of the mining operations ; the per- 
son who directs and is responsible for the miners' work. As 
a title, often abbreviated capt. 
2. A name commonly given, in the form long- 
finned captain, to the fish otherwise known as the 
lanthorn gurnard Captain en piedt, a captain kept 
in pay, that is, not reformed. See captain reformed, below. 
E. PhiUips, 1706. Captain ofthepoll.in the University 
of Cambridge, England, the first in rank among those who 
graduate without honors, known as the polloi or pott. 
There are also many men every year contending for the 
Captaincy of the Poll, some for the honor, such as it is, 
others because it will help them to get Poll pupils after- 
wards. C. A. Bruited, English University, p. 310. 
Captain reformed!, a captain who upon the reducing 
of forces lost his company, but was continued as captain, 
either as second to another or without a post. See refor- 
mado. E. PhiUips, 1706. Captains of tops, captains 
of the forecastle, captains of the afterguard, and 
captains of the hold, ratings of petty officers in the 
United States navy, whose duties are to superintend 
the men in their different departments. Fleet captain, 
in the United States navy, an officer temporarily appointed 
by the Navy Department to act as chief of staff 'to the com- 
mander-in-chief of a fleet or squadron. Also called flag- 
captain. 
Il.t a. [The orig. (ML.) use, but in E. later 
than the noun use.] 1. Of chief rank, excel- 
lence, or value; chief; principal. 
Like stones of worth they thinly placed are, 
Or captain jewels in the carcanet. Shak., Sonnets, lii. 
2. Of commanding character ; fitted to lead. 
Why then women are more valiant 
That stay at lioitK'. if liuaring carry it, 
And the ass more captain than the lion. 
Shale., T. of A., iii. :,. 
