Talk:cape

capeshit
Not yet CFI-attestable: "capeshit" seems to be Internet slang for bad films/media about superheroes. Equinox ◑ 01:26, 1 November 2016 (UTC)

RFM discussion: August 2020

 * See Talk:cape for.

RFV discussion: June–August 2023
Rfv-sense: To look for, search after.

Also Rfv-sense: To gaze or stare.

Both probably just Middle English - move to capen and tidy up the quotes D ɶƊ (talk) 22:33, 19 June 2023 (UTC)


 * Failed and moved to capen JezperCrtp (talk) 18:24, 22 August 2023 (UTC)

A cloak?
The word lists of User:Ungoliant MMDCCLXIV suggest that cape can mean cloak (he writes "this is the definition used in fantasy games and novels"). I have to say I wasn't aware of the difference. Presumably it's the fact that a cloak has sleeves, whereas a cape is draped over the shoulders. Anyway, is it true? Equinox ◑ 02:03, 20 April 2024 (UTC)


 * I wasn't aware either a cape or a cloak had sleeves. Although our definitions of both are indistinguishable and only say they cover the "back", I notice the image we have of a cloak reaches to about the ankles, whereas the image of cape does not seem to extend below the waist. With that hunch, I was able to find old dictionaries that do define a cape as "a sleeveless garment like a cloak but shorter". So perhaps that was the difference. Ungoliant is right that this difference is no longer maintained, and capes can be any length (Superman's cape is as long as the image we have at cloak). I guess the question now is, is it better to have separate senses like "(dated) garment shorter than a cloak" vs "cloak-length garment", or to have a usage note saying some sources formerly defined "capes" as shorter than "cloaks" but this is no longer maintained. - -sche (discuss) 05:19, 20 April 2024 (UTC)
 * For now I have added a usage note. Please improve if needed. - -sche (discuss) 15:43, 20 April 2024 (UTC)