capon

noun

ca·​pon ˈkā-ˌpän How to pronounce capon (audio)
-pən
: a castrated male chicken

Examples of capon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Maisonette classics such as calf's liver saute, capon Kiev and veal with Champagne are long gone. Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 The Christmas Day lunch will indulge guests with courses featuring caviar, scallops, turbot, capon, cheese and chocolate! Sherrie Nachman, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Three days ahead: Thaw capon. Christopher Michel, Country Living, 21 Sep. 2022 Consider the capon wing. Andy Wang, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023 The first day of prepping the capon wings involves deboning, grinding meat and applying a rub to help dry out the skin. Andy Wang, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023 One to two weeks ahead: make grocery lists, order specialty foods including capon for delivery 1 week before the dinner. Christopher Michel, Country Living, 21 Sep. 2022 Handmade pasta shaped like knots are stuffed with pork loin, ham, Mortadella salami, Parmigiano cheese, eggs and nutmeg, and thrown in a thick capon broth. Silvia Marchetti, CNN, 26 Apr. 2022 Inside the Marché Beauvau, the Marché d’Aligre’s historic covered market, featuring higher-quality butchers, fishmongers, and cheese and poultry sellers, shoppers were eyeing capon, oysters and truffles for the holidays. New York Times, 22 Dec. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English capūn, probably from Old French capon, chapun, from Latin capon-, capo; akin to Lithuanian kapoti to mince, Greek koptein to cut

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of capon was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Capon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capon. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

capon

noun
ca·​pon ˈkā-ˌpän How to pronounce capon (audio)
-pən
: a castrated male chicken

Medical Definition

capon

noun
: a castrated male chicken

More from Merriam-Webster on capon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!