capuchin

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/ˈkæp.ə.t͡ʃɪn//ˈkæp.jə.t͡ʃɪn//-ʃɪn//kəˈpu.t͡ʃɪn/

noun

A monk in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin; (generally) a Franciscan.

Similar
ringtailCebus capucinus
OriginFrench capuchin ← Italian cappuccino ← Late Latin cappa →
UncommonScrabble 17
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Meanings

capuchin1

nouncapuchin (plural capuchins)

plural capuchins

  1. A monk in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin; (generally) a Franciscan.

    “That is something,” said the capuchin, “but not the most essential. Are you certain that he is a Christian?”

    1789, John Moore, Zeluco, Valancourt, published 2008, page 50
  2. A garment consisting of a cloak and hood, made in imitation of the dress of Capuchin monks.

    Of Ermine is his doublet — / His Capuchin gay —

    a. 1886, Emily Dickinson, The Guest is gold and crimson
  3. A capuchin monkey.
  4. A hooded pigeon.

Capuchin2

nounCapuchin (plural Capuchins)

plural Capuchins

  1. A member of an order of Roman Catholic friars.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounmonkey of Central America and South America having thick hair on the head that resembles a monk's cowl

Similar
ringtailCebus capucinus
Broader
New World monkeyplatyrrhineplatyrrhinian
Also see
capuchin monkeyfranciscanringtail

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

capuchin · noun

  1. Late Latincappa“cape, hood”
  2. Italiancappuccino
  3. Frenchcapuchin
  4. Englishcapuchin

First use appears c. 1589, from French capuchin, from earlier capucin, from Italian cappuccino, ultimately from Late Latin cappa (“cape, hood”).

More words from French, Italian, Late Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Capuchin · noun

  1. Italiancappuccino“Capuchin friar”
  2. Middle Frenchcapuchin“Capuchin friar”
  3. EnglishCapuchin

Borrowed from Middle French capuchin (“Capuchin friar”), from Italian cappuccino (“Capuchin friar”), from cappuccio (“hood, cowl”). Doublet of cappuccino.

More words from Middle French, Italian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan caputxí
  • caputxía member of the Roman Catholic order
Czech kapucín
  • kapucína member of the Roman Catholic order
Dutch kapucijner
  • kapucijnera member of the Roman Catholic order
Finnish kapusiini, kapusiinimunkki
  • kapusiinimonk in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
  • kapusiinimunkkimonk in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
  • huppuviittagarment consisting of a cloak and hood
  • kapusiinia member of the Roman Catholic order
French capucin
  • capucina member of the Roman Catholic order
German Kapuziner
  • Kapuzinera member of the Roman Catholic order
Greek Καπουτσίνος
  • Καπουτσίνος (Kapoutsínos)a member of the Roman Catholic order
Hungarian kapucinus
  • kapucinusa member of the Roman Catholic order
Italian cappuccino
  • cappuccinoa member of the Roman Catholic order
Norwegian Bokmål kapusiner
  • kapusinera member of the Roman Catholic order
Polish kapucyn
  • kapucyna member of the Roman Catholic order
Portuguese capuchinho
  • capuchinhoa member of the Roman Catholic order
Russian капуци́н
  • капуци́н (kapucín)a member of the Roman Catholic order
Slovak kapucín
  • kapucína member of the Roman Catholic order
Spanish capuchino
  • capuchinoa member of the Roman Catholic order
Swahili Mkapuchini
  • Mkapuchinia member of the Roman Catholic order
Swedish kapucin, kapucinmunk
  • kapucina member of the Roman Catholic order
  • kapucinmunka member of the Roman Catholic order
  • kapucinermunka member of the Roman Catholic order
Tagalog Kaputsino
  • Kaputsinoa member of the Roman Catholic order
Turkish kapusen
  • kapusenmonk in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
Cite this entry
APA

capuchin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/capuchin

MLA

“capuchin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/capuchin. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “capuchin,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/capuchin.

Source: capuchin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.