Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. mainly US) captain; often as a term of address.

1840		Spirit of the Times (N.Y.) 17 Oct. 391/3: The old cap. wanted to kill one o’ them varmints [DA].
1851		M. Reid Scalp-Hunters II 137: Why, Cap., yur tumble has surely dumbfoundered ye.
1862		G.W. Whitman in Civil War Letters 12 April 50: Cap has bread made in the Citty.
1873		J. O’Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 35: ‘Show your papers, Cap,’ said Giles, seeing him hesitate.
1880		Sheffield Indep. 17 Jan. 9/1: ‘You see, Cap,’ added Rick, giving a reason for his request.
1883		J. Hay Bread-Winners (1884) 140: ‘Hold on, Cap,’ he said.
1893		J. Hawthorne Confessions of Convict 35: One evening Cap. sprang his massy lever.
1900		H. Garland Eagle’s Heart 80: Don’t you worry, cap, I’m not drinkin’ liquor of any colour.
1901		J. Flynt World of Graft 91: The Cap says you want me to chew the rag about municipal corruption.
1911		Marlborough Exp. (N.Z.) 3 June 3/2: They rest called Fred ‘cap’ when they wanted to touch him up till pay-day.
1915		T. McNamara Us Boys 12 May [synd. cartoon strip] ’Lo Cap, which one of us do you want to open up with today.
1917		F. Packard Adventures of Jimmie Dale (1918) I iv: The Cap’ll be along in a minute.
1924		‘Digit’ Confessions of a Twentieth Century Hobo 41: As far as I’m concerned, cap., you’re about seven years too late.
1935		J. Conroy World to Win 57: ‘Not so good, Cap,’ the cook answered jovially.
1943		R. Chandler Lady in the Lake (1952) 167: Hi, Cap, I got a little murder down here cluttering up the front-room.
1944		C. Himes ‘A Penny for Your Thoughts’ in Coll. Stories (1990) 56: His name was Frank Hacket but people in Red River, Texas, where he lived, called him Cap Coty.
1952		W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 191: It’ll make you look pretty big right now won’t it? Knocking over all these gambling joints? Go to it, Cap.
1967		M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 213: ‘He’s through. Tell him I said so.’ ‘I’ll do that, Cap.’.
1979		Fantastic Four Annual 24: Cap! Do you see what I see?
1986		L. Heinemann Paco’s Story (1987) 22: The cap got all pissed off and had another shit fit.
1992		B.Y. Gifford Night People 130: Enjoy you self, Cap.
2004		R.G. Barrett Rosa Marie’s Baby (2013) [ebook] St Kilda cap cursed and immediately cam back with a straight left.
2023		Rayman & Blau Riker’s 46: I said, ‘Cap, from me to you, here’s some pictures of my last tour’.