CAPUT, the head. See HEAD.
Caput baronis, the head of the barony, in ancient customs, denotes the ancient or chief seat or castle of a nobleman, where he made his usual residence, and held his court; sometimes also called caput honoris, or the head of the honour. The caput baronis could not be settled in dowry; nor could it be divided among the daughters, in case there were no son to inherit; but was to descend entire to the eldest daughter, ceteris filiabus aliunde satisfactis.
Caput gallinaginis, in anatomy, is a kind of septum, or spongy border, at the extremities or apertures of each of the vesiculae seminales; serving to prevent the seed coming from one side, from rushing upon, and so stopping, the discharge of the other.
Caput lupinum. Anciently an outlawed felon was said to have caput lupinum, and might be knocked on the head like a wolf, by any one that should meet him; because, having renounced all law, he was to be dealt with as in a state of nature, when every one that should find him might slay him: yet now, to avoid such inhumanity, it is holden that no man is entitled to kill him wantonly and wilfully; but in so doing he is guilty of murder, unless it is done in the endeavour to apprehend him.
Caput Mortuum, a Latin name given to fixed and exhausted residuums remaining in retorts after distillations. As these residuums are very different, according to the substances distilled, and the degree of heat employed, they are by the more accurate modern chemists particularly specified by adding a term denoting their qualities; as earthly residuum, cherry residuum, saline residuum, &c.