1940s slang, from Italian capisci? "do you understand?" from capire "to understand," from Latin capere "seize, grasp, take" (see capable). Also spelled coppish, kabish, capeesh, etc.
variant spelling of capiche (q.v.).
Do you understand?: All right, class, that's all there is to it. Capeesh?/I owe it all to you. Strip Dealers School, capiche?/Sam fixed me with a pair of very cold eyes. ''Capish?'' he said
affirmationI understand: Ten tonight? Capeesh.
[1940s+; fr Italian capisci, ''Do you understand?'']