/
kəˈprɪtʃɪəʊ/
n.
(pl. capriccios)
- a lively piece of music, especially one that is short and free in form.
- a painting representing a fantasy or a mixture of real and imaginary features.
Etymology
C17 (in the sense ‘caprice or capriciousness’): from Ital., lit. ‘head with the hair standing on end’, hence ‘horror’, later ‘sudden start’, from capo ‘head’ + riccio ‘hedgehog’.