r/etymology • u/TheTossoutAcc • Apr 19 '21

What is the etymology of “Cap” and “no cap”?

As you can imagine, I clearly can’t find it so I’m asking here.

All I can find is people telling how it was popularized by Young Thug and like hood culture. But like what’s the actual ORIGIN? Like what does it come from?

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3

u/TerminusEst89 Dec 05 '21

It's ridiculous that not a single person on the internet has matched "Cap" with "Capitalize"

Capitalize - definition - take the chance to gain advantage from.

Therefore saying " i got money, no cap, bitch. means

"i got money. And I'm not trying to capitalize off of that statement because it is in fact true. Bitch.

3

u/Mute2120 Dec 20 '22

My first thought was also capitalize, but I interpreted it as not using capital letters, like not shouting/boasting.

1

u/EmmaOK95 Oct 22 '24

Same! Apparently not a common first thought

0

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '22

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u/no_egrets Dec 20 '22

Your post/comment has been removed for the following reason:

r/etymology is for civil discussion. Disagreement is fine, but keep your posts and comments friendly and always remember the human. Incivility or breach of Reddiquette is not tolerated - be nice.

Thanks.

2

u/ryancn08 Oct 10 '25

The poster was asking if anyone knew, not what your best guess was.

1

u/SufficientGuest2417 Mar 08 '26

So true! I find myself absolutely hornshwagled to see nary a reference to notation ii.a page 1812 of Adam Smith’s: “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.” Only by understanding the machinations of oppressive literature can we break the chains binding the potential of proletarian speech.

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u/Careful_Current2615 13d ago

You're close! From what I can tell, its from 'capacity', but honestly thats so close to basically be the same concept.

1

u/tiernanx7 Dec 23 '21

Literally the first thing I thought of when I heard it. Though I was thinking more cap = capitalism = corporate bs/lies/corruption, rather than direct capitalisation. Totally fits, but I doubt it's the source.

1

u/MurkyCabinet Oct 12 '23

okay, then. whatever you say, man.

1

u/SSG_SSG_BloodMoon Oct 30 '23

classic hood etymology. you should join the nation of islam

1

u/Radiant-Background35 Jan 04 '26

Classic big(idi)ot response. Is Mariam Webster too “hood” for you? https://www.merriam-webster.com/slang/no-cap

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u/Massive-Tone124 Nov 13 '23

no, like in poker a capped range just like a hat or cap is the top. its like someone saying "I'm the best writer ever" they are capping, overstating something that need not be said. The reason future says that is he has No cap, there is nothing he can't get no ceilings....but the term has devolved to me a Lie. ie- He told me he was gonna bring the trees, Say less, now i will get them, no cap, and bet cuz shits cringe atm but facts....we bussin soon!

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u/Massive-Tone124 Nov 13 '23

just like why you trying to CAP , you are capping by acting like an authority on the word and its roots, if you wanna know its a greek term from the 1500's which was someone making a better item, food, art, poetry....it has 0 percent and i mean this capitlize is not capping.....capping is stating "I'm the smartest cap means capitatize" you didnt say it like that, but you were capping in your whole thing,

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no disrespect

1

u/zephirotalmasy Mar 02 '24

It would be “to be no capping”, like, “I’m no capping”, I cannot even think one example in Ebonics where a verb would miraculous flip into a noun