capsize English · revision 1597

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kæpˈsaɪz/ ''(UK)''; /ˈkæpsaɪz/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a nautical word of obscure origin.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) 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”.^(Barnhart 1995) Etymonline and Merriam-Webster also suggest [[es|capuzar]],^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) which Etymonline derives from Latin ''caput'' “head”,^(Etymonline) and Merriam-Webster mentions Catalan ''cabussar'' “to thrust the head under water”.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To tip or turn over (1758, according to Etymonline).^(Etymonline) The OED and Barnhart date the verb to 1788, and Merriam-Webster to 1778.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The intransitive and transitive uses developed side by side.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Besides boats, the verb was applied to anything turned topsy-turvy.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1758 – intransitive, to tip over.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1769 – transitive, to overturn a vessel.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1788 – transitive, in the OED and Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1805 – intransitive, in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1807 – noun, an overturning.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To overturn, or cause a boat to overturn.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An act of overturning.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[capsizable]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House refers to ''upset'' for synonyms and gives ''right'' as an antonym.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}