capernosity

noun

1. The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include

   literary, uncountable

   Besides, my grandmother, who lived at the top of the next house, was a lady of capernosity and function. She had money and lay in bed all day, drinking porter or malt, and taking pinches of snuff, and talking to the neighbours that would call up to tell her the news of the day.

2. The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include: — capability and generosity

   literary, uncountable

3. The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include: — competence, flair

   literary, uncountable

4. The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include: — peevishness, ill temper

   literary, uncountable

Where it comes from

Coined by Brendan Behan, using the learned suffix -osity. Augustine Martin suggests Blend of capability + generosity. Barry Baldwin suggests a link with Scots capernoity (“befuddled”) or Latin caper (“goat”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry capernosity (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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