Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CA-PRICE', n. [Fr. caprice; Sp. and Port. capricho; It. capriccio, a shaking in fever, rigors; also, whim, freak, fancy. I suspect this word to be formed, with a prefix ca on the root of freak, break; denoting primarily a sudden bursting, breaking, or starting. So we see in Italian, maglio, and camaglio, a mail. In early English writers, it is written, according to the Spanish, capricho. If formed from the root of capio, caper, the primary sense is the same.]

A sudden start of the mind; a sudden change of opinion, or humor; a whim, freak, or particular fancy.