1595-1605; < Italian, perhaps a shortening of caporiccio head with bristling hair
British Dictionary definitions for capriccio
capriccio
/kəˈprɪtʃɪˌəʊ/
noun (pl) -priccios, -pricci (-ˈpriːtʃɪ), -prices
1.
(music) a lively piece composed freely and without adhering to the rules for any specific musical form
Word Origin
C17: from Italian: caprice
Word Origin and History for capriccio
n.
1690s as a term in music for a kind of free composition, from Italian capriccio "sudden start or motion" (see caprice). Earlier it meant "prank, trick" (1660s); "caprice" (c.1600).