from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Capuchin \Cap`u*chin"\, n. [F. capucin a monk who wears a cowl,
fr. It. cappuccio hood. See {Capoch}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Eccl.) A Franciscan monk of the austere branch
established in 1526 by Matteo di Baschi, distinguished by
wearing the long pointed cowl or capoch of St. Francis.
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A bare-footed and long-bearded capuchin. --Sir W.
Scott.
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2. A garment for women, consisting of a cloak and hood,
resembling, or supposed to resemble, that of capuchin
monks.
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3. (Zool.)
(a) A long-tailed South American monkey ({Cabus
capucinus}), having the forehead naked and wrinkled,
with the hair on the crown reflexed and resembling a
monk's cowl, the rest being of a grayish white; --
called also {capucine monkey}, {weeper}, {sajou},
{sapajou}, and {sai}.
(b) Other species of {Cabus}, as {Cabus fatuellus} (the
{brown capucine} or {horned capucine}.), {Cabus
albifrons} (the {cararara}), and {Cabus apella}.
(c) A variety of the domestic pigeon having a hoodlike
tuft of feathers on the head and sides of the neck.
[1913 Webster]
{Capuchin nun}, one of an austere order of Franciscan nuns
which came under Capuchin rule in 1538. The order had
recently been founded by Maria Longa.
[1913 Webster]