這個拼法底下其實是2個不同的字,意思沒有關係, 只是長得一樣。下面分開列出來。跳到 蹦蹦跳跳 · 酸豆(續隨子)

1

caper

v, n

Picture a young goat let out into a field: it springs, lands, and springs again, for no reason except that it feels good. The feet keep leaving the ground and nothing useful is being done. Everything in this side of caper keeps that spring in it. Turn the jump into one countable movement and it is a step in a dance; let the jumping spread into behaviour and it is silly, harmless goings-on; let it grow up into something planned and risky and it becomes an adventure that the speaker still refuses to take seriously.

可以想成一隻小羊被放進草地。牠彈起來、落地、再彈起來,沒有理由,就是覺得舒服。腳一直離地,也沒有在做什麼有用的事。caper 這一邊的意思,都還留著那個彈跳。把那一跳切成可以數的一個動作,就是舞裡的一個步子。讓那股跳勁擴散成行為,就是一連串沒有惡意的胡鬧。再讓它長大成一件有計畫、有風險的事,就成了一場冒險;而說話的人到那時候,語氣還是不肯嚴肅起來。

From the word’s history

The source says this caper is a clipping of capriole. The shortened word kept the leap and lost everything else.

字典說這個 caper 是從 capriole 縮短來的。字被剪短了,留下來的正好是那個彈跳。至於後面「胡鬧」和「勾當」的意思,是從這個畫面延伸出來的教學連結,不是字典說的歷史演變。

Wiktionary entry supplied in packet (source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:631747433): Clipping of capriole.

A second word, same spelling

2

caper

n

Picture a small glass jar at the back of the fridge, full of hard green buds the size of peas sitting in cloudy salty water. Nothing here jumps. This caper is picked before its flower opens, and the salt or vinegar is what turns it into food; the taste is strong enough that six of them can season a whole pan of sauce.

可以想成冰箱深處的一個小玻璃罐,裡面是幾十顆豌豆大的深綠色硬花苞,泡在混濁的鹽水裡。這裡沒有任何東西在跳。這個 caper 是在花開之前就摘下來的,要靠鹽或醋醃過才能吃。它的味道很重,六顆就足以讓一整鍋醬有味道。

From the word’s history

The source gives this word a separate history: from Latin capparis, from Ancient Greek kapparis. It only looks like the caper that means a leap.

字典給這個字另一條來源:拉丁文 capparis,再往前是古希臘文 kápparis。它跟「蹦蹦跳跳」的 caper 只是拼法一樣。同一個拼法底下,其實住著兩個沒有關係的字,所以這裡不必硬把它拉回那個彈跳的畫面。

Wiktionary entry supplied in packet (source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:631763998): From Latin capparis, from Ancient Greek κάππαρις (kápparis).

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