Caput Draconis, WAS: Re: Fate of HANDSOME guys in the Harry Potter series

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 84607

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, HimemyaUtena at a... wrote:

Adrianna:
> Hmmm...interesting. However, I believe "Caput" in latin 
means "head". I'm not sure, but I'm thinking it's head as in head of 
a company, but I could be wrong, it could be head as in the body part.
> 

Geoff:
I've always found that, having done GCE O-level Latin years ago, 
knowledge of Latin is a surprisingly useful tool to possess.

I've already commented on "caput" being "head" in Latin; it is 
definitely the head of the body in origin. We've had "caput 
draconis" - "dragon's head" (draconis is the Genetive from of draco) 
and,. as a member of the school choir many years ago, I remember at 
Christmas singing: caput apres defero, quod estis in convivio - the 
first line of the Boar's Head carol. You could say of our little 
ferret friend "Caput draconis magnus est" - Draco's head is big. Draw 
your own conclusions....
:-)

Geoff