Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†CAPES, n.pl. Also in n.Eng. dials. [keps]

1. “The grains of corn to which the husk continues to adhere after threshing, and which appear uppermost in riddling” (Lth. 1825 Jam.²).Sc. 1814 J. Sinclair Agric. Scot. I. 410: 
While the grain is passing through the riddles, small pieces of straw, and clokes and capes, or grain to which the chaff adheres, are thrown to the top, by means of the circular motion of the riddles, and are skimmed off by hand.

2. “The grain which is not sufficiently ground; especially where the shell remains with part of the grain” (Ib.).Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 110:
Wi' capes, the mill she gard them ring, Which i' the nook became a bing; Then Goody wi' her tentie paw, Did capes an' seeds thegether ca'.

3. “Flakes of meal, which come from the mill, when the grain has not been thoroughly dried. They are generally mixed with the seeds for the purpose of making sowens or flummery” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).