Cap-a-pie

The general etymology is the French cap à pied, but the French phrase is de pied en cap.

“Armed at all points exactly cap-a-pie.”

Shakespeare: Hamlet, i. 2.

“I am courtier, cap-a-pe.”

Shakespeare: Winter's Tale, iv. 3.

We are told that cap à pie is Old French, but it would be desirable to give a quotation from some old French author to verify this assertion. I have hunted in vain for the purpose. Again, is pie Old French for pied? This is not a usual change. The usual change would be pied into pie. The Latin might be De capi te ad pedem.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894

Capfull of Wind

Cap-money