a part of dress made to cover the head, much in the figure thereof.

The use of caps and hats is referred to the year 1449, the first seen in these parts of the world being at the entry of Charles VII. into Rouen: from that time they began to take place of the hoods, or capes, that had been used till then. When the cap was of velvet, they called it mortier; when of wool, simply bonnet. None but kings, princes, and knights, were allowed the use of the mortier. The cap was the head-dress of the clergy and graduates. Paquier says, that it was anciently a part of the hood worn by the people of the robe; the skirts whereof being cut off as an incumbrance, left the round cap an easy commodious cover for the head; which round cap being afterwards assumed by the people, those of the gown changed it for a square one, first invented by a Frenchman, called Patrouillet: he adds, that the giving of the cap to the students in the universities, was to denote, that they had acquired full liberty, and were no longer subject to the rod of their superiors; in imitation of the ancient Romans, who gave a pilus, or cap, to their slaves, in the ceremony of making them free: whence the proverb, Vocare servos ad pilum. Hence, also, on medals, the cap is the symbol of liberty, whom they represent holding a cap in her right hand, by the point.

The Romans were many ages without any regular covering for the head: when either the rain or sun was troublesome, the lappet of the gown was thrown over the head; and hence it is that all the ancient statues appear bareheaded, excepting sometimes a wreath, or the like. And the same usage obtained among the Greeks, where, at least during the heroic age, no caps were known. The sort of caps or covers of the head in use among the Romans on divers occasions, were the pilus, pilus, cucullus, galerus, and pallidum; the differences between which are often confounded by ancient as well as modern writers.

The French clergy wear a shallow kind of cap, called calotte, which only covers the top of the head, made of leather, fettin, worsted, or other stuff. The red cap is a mark of dignity allowed only to those who are raised to the cardinalate. The secular clergy are distinguished by black leathern caps, the regulars by knit and worsted ones.

Churchmen, and the members of universities, students in law, physic, &c. as well as graduates, wear square caps. In most universities doctors are distinguished by peculiar caps, given them in assuming the doctorate. Wickliff calls the canons of his time bifurcati, from their caps. Paquier observes, that, in his time, the caps worn by the churchmen, &c. were called square caps; though, in effect, they were round yellow caps.

The Chinese have not the use of the hat, like us; but wear a cap of a peculiar structure, which the laws of civility will not allow them to put off: it is different for the different seasons of the year: that used in summer is in form of a cone, ending at top in a point. It is made of a very beautiful kind of mat, much valued in that country, and lined with fettin: to this is added, at top, a large lock of red silk, which falls all round as low as the bottom; so that, in walking, the silk fluctuating regularly on all sides, makes a graceful appearance: sometimes, instead of silk, they use a kind of bright red hair, the lustre whereof no weather effaces. In winter they wear a plush cap, bordered with martlet's or fox's skin; as to the rest, like those for the summer. These caps are frequently sold for eight or ten crowns; but they are so short, that the ears are exposed.

The cap is sometimes used as a mark of infamy; in Italy the Jews are distinguished by a yellow cap; at Lucca by an orange one. In France, those who had been bankrupts were obliged ever after to wear a green cap, to prevent people from being imposed on in any future commerce. By several arrêts in 1584, 1622, 1628, 1688, it was decreed, that if they were at any time found without their green cap, their protection should... should be null, and their creditors impowered to cast them into prison; but the sentence is not now executed.

**Cap of Maintenance**, one of the regalia, or ornaments of state belonging to the kings of England, before whom it was carried at the coronation and other great solemnities. Caps of maintenance are also carried before the mayors of the several cities in England.

**Cap**, in ship building, a strong, thick, block of wood, used to confine two masts together, when one is erected at the head of the other in order to lengthen it. It is for this purpose furnished with two holes perpendicular to its length and breadth, and parallel to its thickness: one of these is square, and the other round; the former being solidly fixed upon the upper end of the lower mast, whilst the latter receives the mast employed to lengthen it, and secures it in this position.