Also 7 caparisson, -izon, 8 -ason. [a. earlier F. caparasson, now caparaçon, a. Sp. caparazon, Pg. caparação, according to Littré, an augm. of med.L. caparo chaperon (a sort of cape worn by old women, etc.), deriv. of capa CAPE. See also COÖPERISON.]
1. A cloth or covering spread over the saddle or harness of a horse, often gaily ornamented; housings, trappings; also of other beasts of burden.
1602. Fulbecke, Pandectes, 66. To esteeme … a horse by his trappinges and caparison.
1627. Lisander & Cal., X. 210. Seeing him without any caparison or other couerture but his saddle.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 120, ¶ 6. He covered his horses with golden caparisons.
1845. Stocqueler, Handbk. Brit. India (1854), 307. Elephants, with … rich caparisons, and gorgeously painted trunks.
† b. A kind of defensive armor for a horse. Obs.
1598. Hakluyt, Voy., I. 62. Some of them haue … caparisons for their horses made of leather, artificially doubled or trebled vpon their bodies.
1753. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Antiently, the caparasons were a kind of iron armour, wherewith horses were covered in battle.
2. transf. The dress and ornaments of men and women; equipment, outfit. Also fig.
1598. Pasquill’s Ret., 4. Spangled and trapt with a full caparison of the ornaments of this present age.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iii. 27. With Dye and drab, I purchas’d this Caparison, and my Reuennew is the silly Cheate.
1634. Heywood, Lanc. Witches, IV. Wks. 1874, IV. 224. You have … furnisht her with all the Caparisons that she hath worne.
1749. Smollett, Regicide, III. iv. (R.). My heart groanes Beneath the gay caparison.
1868. Milman, St. Paul’s, vi. 112. That mediævalism which … though rigidly restrictive, caparison of the human mind, had become an intolerable burden.
