[susan53]

Does anyone know why "capital" is used in expressions such as a capital crime or capital punishment ? I was asked by a student and hazarded that it was something to do with losing your head as in decapitate. But I was blufffing ... Google doesn't seem to be able to tell me and my dictionaries give no clue.

[clivehawkins]

Hi Susan.

It seems to mean loss of life, as in capital punishment, or punishable by death, as in capital crime. Indeed, a capital error is fatal or extremely serious.

So you're right that 'head' seems to have some significance. As well you know, per capita.

How's Milan, by the way? Quite mild down here on the island:-)

[susan53]

Quote clivehawkins

How's Milan, by the way? Quite mild down here on the island:-)

Warm, very foggy and with pollution so far above the danger levels that nobody's counting any more. Want to swap???

[emile]

capital

c.1225, from L. capitalis "of the head," from caput (gen. capitis) "head" (see head). A capital crime (1526) is one that affects the life, or the "head." The noun for "chief town" is first recorded 1667 (the O.E. word was heafodstol). The financial sense (1630) is from L.L. capitale "stock, property," neut. of capitalis. Of ships, "first-rate, of the line," attested from 1652. Capital letters (c.1391) are at the "head" of a sentence or word. Capitalism first recorded 1854; originally "the condition of having capital;" as a political/economic system, 1877. Capitalist is 1791, from Fr. capitaliste, a coinage of the Revolution and a term of reproach.

[emile]

forgot to give the link:

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=capital

[clivehawkins]

Quote susan53

Warm, very foggy and with pollution so far above the danger levels that nobody's counting any more. Want to swap???

Can I think about it for a couple of days?

[susan53]

Thanks Emile - so I was right all along

[emile]

you're welcome. The site in the link is really great for etymology issues.