I. Lit., a small head, of man or beast: “operto capitulo bibere,” Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 14.— Hence, in the lang. of comedy, for a man, Plaut. As. 2, 4, 89; “and as a term of endearment: o capitulum lepidissimum,” most charming creature, Ter. Eun. 3, 3, 25: “haedi,” Cels. 2, 22.—
B. Of plants: “caepae,” Col. 11, 3, 15: “sarmenti,” id. 3, 77, 4: “torcularii,” Cato, R. R. 18, 4 al. (perh. also ramulorum, Plin. 24, 19, 113, § 173; 27, 5, 20, § 37; cf. capitellum).—
II. Transf.
A. In architecture.
2. The capital of a triglyph, Vitr. 4, 3, 8.—
3. The cross-beam of warlike engines, Vitr. 1, 1; 10, 17.—
B. In late Lat., a covering for the head of females, Isid. Orig. 19, 31, 3; cf. Varr. ap. Non. p. 542, 30.—
C. Also late Lat., a prominent part or division of a writing, a chapter, section, Tert. adv. Jud. 9, 19; Hier. in Ezech. c. 47 fin.—
D. A section of a law, Cod. Just. 5, 37, 28.—
E. The raising of recruits (as an office), Cod. Th. 11, 16, 15.