capo

(kā′pō)

noun pl. capos

a device fastened over the fingerboard as of a guitar to shorten the strings uniformly and facilitate playing in a different key

Origin: short for capotasto < It, lit., chief key < capo, chief, head (< L caput, head) + tasto, key < tastare, to touch < VL: see taste

noun pl. capos

a chieftain in a criminal organization such as the Mafia

Origin: < It, lit., head, chief

See capo in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. ca·pos

A small movable bar placed across the fingerboard of a guitar or similar instrument so as to raise the pitch of all the strings uniformly.

Origin:

Origin: Italian capo (di tastiera), head (of the fingerboard)

Origin: , from Latin caput; see kaput- in Indo-European roots

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capo¹

noun pl. ca·pos

The head of a branch of an organized crime syndicate.

Origin:

Origin: Italian

Origin: , from Latin caput, head; see capo¹

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