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Where does the word "capon" come from? It comes from Latin capo, passing through Old French before entering English (1000s).
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Where does the word "capon" come from? It comes from Latin capo, passing through Old French before entering English (1000s).
Capon’s story begins in Latin: capo meant “castrated cockerel.” Possibly from a root meaning 'to cut'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as capon. A fattened castrated rooster. It reached English by 1000s as capon. A medieval luxury food. Today, capon means a castrated domestic cock fattened for eating.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient capo "castrated cockerel", possibly from a root meaning 'to cut'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval capon "capon", a fattened castrated rooster.
- Stage 3 · English · 1000s capon "capon", a medieval luxury food.