Caper \Ca"per\, n. [F. c[^a]pre, fr. L. capparis, Gr. ?; cf. Ar.
& Per. al-kabar.]
1. The pungent grayish green flower bud of the European and
Oriental caper (Capparis spinosa), much used for
pickles.
2. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Capparis; -- called also
caper bush, caper tree.
Note: The Capparis spinosa is a low prickly shrub of the
Mediterranean coasts, with trailing branches and
brilliant flowers; -- cultivated in the south of Europe
for its buds. The C. sodada is an almost leafless
spiny shrub of central Africa (Soudan), Arabia, and
southern India, with edible berries.
Bean caper. See Bran caper, in the Vocabulary.
Caper sauce, a kind of sauce or catchup made of capers.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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