CAPRICORN (Latin Capricornus, from caper a goat, and cornu a horn), in Astronomy, one of the twelve signs of the zodiac; the winter solstice.
The ancients accounted Capricorn the tenth sign; but the stars being advanced a whole sign towards the east, Capricorn is now rather the eleventh sign; and it is at the
Capricorn sun's entry into Sagittarius that the solstice happens, though the ancient manner of speaking is still retained.
Capstan. This sign is represented on ancient monuments, medals, &c., as having the fore part of a goat, and the hind part of a fish, which is the form of an Ægipan; and sometimes simply under the form of a goat. In books it is characterized thus, .