noun, plural ca·pos.
- any of various devices for a guitar, lute, banjo, etc., that when clamped or screwed down across the strings at a given fret will raise each string a corresponding number of half tones.
- the nut of a guitar, lute, banjo, etc.
noun, plural ca·pos.
- the chief of a branch of the Mafia.
noun plural -pos
- a device fitted across all the strings of a guitar, banjo, etc, so as to raise the pitch of each string simultaneouslyAlso called: capo tasto (ˈkæpəʊ ˈtæstəʊ) Compare barré
noun plural -pos
- the presumed title of a Mafia leader
“leader of a Mafia ‘family,’ ” 1952, Italian, literally “head” (see head (n.)).
“pitch-altering device for a stringed instrument,” 1946, short for capo tasto (1876), from Italian, literally “head stop” (see head (n.)).