Where does “caprice” come from?

Caprice comes from French caprice, from Italian capriccio, ultimately from Latin caput meaning head, reflecting the sense of a sudden change of mind or whimsical impulse.

caprice (English): An impulsive, seemingly unmotivated action,...

Definitions

  1. An impulsive, seemingly unmotivated action,...

Ancestry of “caprice”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchcapricewhim; wish; tantrum
2Italiancapricciowhim, fancy, caprice, quirk; tantrum; capriccio
3Italiancaporicciofright, sudden start
Every word from Italian caporiccio →Every word from Italian capriccio →Every word from French caprice →