noun

1. a sudden, impulsive change in the way one thinks or acts; freakish notion; whim
2. a capricious quality or nature
3. Music a capriccio

Etymology: Fr < It capriccio, a shivering, whim < capo (< L caput, head) + riccio, curl, frizzled, lit., hedgehog (< L ericius: see urchin); hence, orig., head with bristling hair, horripilation; meaning infl. by assoc. with It capriola (see capriole) & capra < L capra, she-goat