capon.1
/ˈkɑːpəʊ//ˈkapo/ The leader of a branch or ‘family’ of the Mafia.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > secret society > [noun] > other secret societies > member of > chief
boss of all bosses1880
capo mafioso1952
capo1959
capo di tutti capi1969
1959 G. Maxwell Ten Pains of Death iv. 65 There used to be two great capo (chief) mafia families in Castellamare... The present holder of the title of capo is a nephew of the last, now an old man of eighty.
1969 M. Gilbert Etruscan Net iii. iii. 242 Those men were of the Mafia. You hired their services... You were responsible to their capo for their safe return.
1978 G. Vidal Kalki vii. 165 Various Mafia capos all around the country have denied any knowledge of the murder of what many believed was a leading trafficker in drugs.
Derivatives
capo mafioso n. (cf.mafioso n.).
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > secret society > [noun] > other secret societies > member of > chief
boss of all bosses1880
capo mafioso1952
capo1959
capo di tutti capi1969
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > crime > a criminal or law-breaker > gangster > person of specific rank in Mafia
capo mafioso1952
consigliere1963
godfather1963
soldier1963
made man1973
1952 E. Reid Mafia xvi. 183 Di Martini took over as Capo Mafioso of New Orleans.
1972 ‘J. Ripley’ My Word you should have seen Us 88 The F.B.I. know Joseph Colombo as a Capo Mafioso.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1989; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
capon.2
/ˈkapəʊ/, U.S. /ˈkeɪpoʊ/, /ˈkɑpoʊ/ = capo tasto n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > stringed instruments > lute- or viol-type parts > [noun] > movable bridge
capo tasto1876
barre1900
capo1946
1946 J. Sampson Specialized Course Guitar Lessons xiii. 6 A ‘Capo’ should only be used by those who find that pieces of music are written too low for them to comfortably sing while playing.
1968 Melody Maker 30 Nov. 22 (advt.) Ask for Hamilton capos.
1987 Folk Roots Apr. 9/3 Cast off capos..will be found littered around any guitar player's stomping ground.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1989; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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