Capsicine
(Cap"si*cine) n. [From Capsicum.] (Chem.) A volatile alkaloid extracted from Capsicum
annuum or from capsicin.
Capsicum
(Cap"si*cum) n. [NL., fr. L. capsa box, chest.] (Bot.) A genus of plants of many species,
producing capsules or dry berries of various forms, which have an exceedingly pungent, biting taste,
and when ground form the red or Cayenne pepper of commerce.
[1913 Webster]
The most important species are Capsicum baccatum or bird pepper, C. fastigiatum or chili pepper,
C. frutescens or spur pepper, and C. annuum or Guinea pepper, which includes the bell pepper and
other common garden varieties. The fruit is much used, both in its green and ripe state, in pickles and
in cookery. See Cayenne pepper.
[1913 Webster]
Capsize
(Cap*size") v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Capsized (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Capsizing.] [Cf. Sp. cabecear
to nod, pitch, capuzar, chapuzar, to sink (a vessel) by the head; both fr. L. caput head.] To upset or
overturn, as a vessel or other body.
But what if carrying sail capsize the boat?
Byron.
Capsize
(Cap"size`) n. An upset or overturn.
Capsquare
(Cap"*square) n. (Gun.) A metal covering plate which passes over the trunnions of a cannon,
and holds it in place.
Capstan
(Cap"stan) n. [F. cabestan, fr. Sp. cabestrante, cabrestante, fr. cabestrar to bind with a
halter, fr. cabestrohalter, fr. L. capistrum halter, fr. capere to hold (see Capacious); or perh. the Spanish
is fr. L. caper goat + stans, p. pr. of stare to stand; cf. F. chèvre she-goat, also a machine for raising
heavy weights.] A vertical cleated drum or cylinder, revolving on an upright spindle, and surmounted
by a drumhead with sockets for bars or levers. It is much used, especially on shipboard, for moving
or raising heavy weights or exerting great power by traction upon a rope or cable, passing around the
drum. It is operated either by steam power or by a number of men walking around the capstan, each
pushing on the end of a lever fixed in its socket. [Sometimes spelt Capstern, but improperly.]
Capstan bar, one of the long bars or levers by which the capstan is worked; a handspike.. — To pawl
the capstan, to drop the pawls so that they will catch in the notches of the pawl ring, and prevent the
capstan from turning back. — To rig the capstan, to prepare the for use, by putting the bars in the
sockets. — To surge the capstan, to slack the tension of the rope or cable wound around it.
