caparison

plural caparisons

1. The often ornamental coverings for an animal, especially a horse or an elephant.

   That very year they received an order from Gustaf II Adolf of Sweden (1594-1632) for a large number of tapestries and four caparisons.

   2001, Walter A. Liedtke, Vermeer and the Delft School, page 520

   1 more example

   And the green of the caparison of the horse, and of his rider, was as green as the leaves of the fir-tree, and the yellow was as yellow as the blossom of the broom.

   1861, Charlotte Guest, transl., The Mabinogion/The Dream of Rhonabwy, translation of original in Middle Welsh

2. Gay or rich clothing.

   What boots it, that my Fortune decks me thus / With unſubſtantial Plumes; when my Heart groans / Beneath the gay Capariſon, and Love / With unrequited Paſſion wounds my Soul!

   1749, [Tobias George Smollett], The Regicide: Or, James the First, of Scotland. A Tragedy. […], London: […] [F]or the benefit of the author, →OCLC, Act III, scene iv, page 37

present singular third person caparisons · participle present caparisoning · participle past caparisoned · past caparisoned

1. To dress up a horse or elephant with ornamental coverings.

   Come, bustle, bustle; caparison my horse

   1593, Shakespeare, Richard III, Act 5, Scene 3