capernosity

== English == === Etymology === Coined by Brendan Behan, using the learned suffix -osity. Augustine Martin suggests Blend of capability +‎ generosity. Barry Baldwin suggests a link with Scots capernoity (“befuddled”) or Latin caper (“goat”). === Noun === capernosity (uncountable) (humorous, literary, Ireland) The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include: 1953 Easter, Brendan Behan, "The Confirmation Suit"; in The Standard p.5; reprinted in Brendan Behan's Island; An Irish Sketchbook, Hutchinson, (London), 1962, page 148: Besides, my grandmother, who lived at the top of the next house, was a lady of capernosity and function. She had money and lay in bed all day, drinking porter or malt, and taking pinches of snuff, and talking to the neighbours that would call up to tell her the news of the day. 1955 June 4, Brendan Behan, "It's Torca Hill for beauty" The Irish Press, reprinted in Hold your hour and have another (1963), pages 142-3: [...] in Howth they have a paper of their own, in which is reported the wedding of a girl from the Hill. The affair was carried out with function and capernosity, by all accounts [...] 1955 September 3, Brendan Behan, "Nuts from the Crimean War" The Irish Press, reprinted in Hold your hour and have another (1963) page 70: Myself and my brothers joined in this [singing], with function and capernosity, as true little Republicans [...] capability and generosity competence, flair peevishness, ill temper ==== Usage notes ==== Used, by and in allusion to Brendan Behan, in collocation with function. === References ===