Etymology Dictionary

CAPE (1),  a covering for the shoulders.  (F.,—Low Lat.)   In early use.   In Layamon, ii. 122; and again in i. 332, where the later text has he equivalent word cope.   And see Havelok, 429.—O.F. cape.—Low Lat. capa, which occurs in Isidore of Seville; see Cap, and Cope.   ¶ The word, being an ecclesiastical one, has spread widely; from the Low Lat. capa are derived not only O.F. cape, but also Prov., Span., and Port. capa, Ital. cappa, A.S. cæppe (whence E. cap), Icel. kápa (whence E. cope), Swed. kåpa, kappa, Dan. kaabe, kappe, Du. kap, G. kappe.   Der. cap-arison, q.v.; and see chapel, chaperon, chaplet.

CAPE (2),  a headland.  (F.,—Ital.,—L.)   In Shak. Oth. ii. 1. 1.—F. cap, 'a promontory, cape;' Cot.—Ital. capo, a head; a headland, cape.—Lat. caput, a head; cognate with E. head, q.v.   ¶ In the phr. cap-à-piè, i.e. head to foot, the 'cap' is the F. cap here spoken of.