cap v
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5 To pop (corn); of corn: to pop. chiefly eKY Cf cap n 9, Cf cap corn n, capper n 3, poppie cap n
1904 Mt. Advocate (Barbourville KY) [22 Apr] 4/2, Jacob Taylor says he is going to plant a pop corn patch, and says h[e] will have a fine time capping corn next winter. 1904 Breathitt Co. News (Jackson KY) 21 Oct [2]/3, Mr. Bowman heard a cracking noise in his garden and on going out he found the shucks all bursting on his pop corn ears and the corn capping in the hot sun and ready for use. 1913 Furman Mothering 169 seKY, This evening, while we were popping corn in the “fotch-on” poppers, Killis said he could recollect “capping” corn in a skillet under the still while he and his father made liquor. 1936 Morehouse Rain on Just 197 nwNC, “Get the corn capping,” soothed . . Drake. “Don’t want a pooty fire for capping.” He scattered a crowd at the fireplace still capping corn for the young uns. 1946 AmSp 21.270 neKY, Cap. . . To pop (corn). 1973 Lexington Leader (KY) 24 Dec 2/3 ceKY, Almost every winter night, her mother would drop a piece of butter into a big iron kettle hanging over the fire, then pour in homegrown popcorn and “cap” a kettle of corn. “We had the most wonderful times sitting around at night eating capped corn and telling stories.” 2000 Portwood Tell Us 81 csIL (as of c1955) [Black], “Would you like me to cap some corn for you?” she asked. That was her terminology for making popcorn.
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