to gain the cap
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To obtain a bow from another out of respect. Such gams the cap of him that makes them fine, But keeps his book uncrossed.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to gain the cap” mean?
To obtain a bow from another out of respect. Such gams the cap of him that makes them fine, But keeps his book uncrossed.
Is “to gain the cap” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.