capsize

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kæpˈsaɪz/ (UK); /ˈkæpsaɪz/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is a nautical word of obscure origin.^[2][3][4][5] Barnhart calls it originally sailors' cant, possibly borrowed from Spanish cabezar “to pitch, as a ship does” and capuzar “to sink a ship by the head”.^[3] Etymonline and Merriam-Webster also suggest Spanish capuzar,^[4][6] which Etymonline derives from Latin caput “head”,^[4] and Merriam-Webster mentions Catalan cabussar “to thrust the head under water”.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

To tip or turn over (1758, according to Etymonline).^[4] The OED and Barnhart date the verb to 1788, and Merriam-Webster to 1778.^[7][3][6]

Semantic evolution

The intransitive and transitive uses developed side by side.^[4][7] Besides boats, the verb was applied to anything turned topsy-turvy.^[4]

Timeline

• 1758 – intransitive, to tip over.^[4]
• 1769 – transitive, to overturn a vessel.^[4]
• 1788 – transitive, in the OED and Barnhart.^[7][3]
• 1805 – intransitive, in the OED.^[7]
• 1807 – noun, an overturning.^[7]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To overturn, or cause a boat to overturn.

Noun

1. An act of overturning.

Word family

• capsizable

Usage notes

Random House refers to upset for synonyms and gives right as an antonym.^[5]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
6. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
7. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press