caparison etymology

Etymology:

  • Old French: caparasson, caperon
  • Late Latin: caparo, capparonus
  • Probably from Arabic: qālāsīyūn, meaning "cloth of Al-Qalas" (a city in southern Spain)

Meaning:

  • An ornamental covering for a horse, especially during battle or on ceremonial occasions.

Origin:

The term "caparison" likely originated in the Arabic world, where elaborately decorated horse coverings were common in both military and civilian contexts. These coverings were typically made of rich fabrics and adorned with embroidery, tassels, and other embellishments.

During the Crusades, European knights came into contact with these Arabic horse coverings and adopted them into their own military practices. The word "caparison" was first used in English in the 14th century to describe these elaborate horse coverings.

Over time, the use of caparisons became more widespread and they were used not only for military purposes but also for ceremonial and decorative occasions. Today, caparisons are still used in some cultures for traditional horse riding and festivals.

caparison relate terms

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