capa

=

noun

capa

feminine noun

1. cloak, cape (manto)

andar de capa caída (informal) -> to be in a bad way; (persona) to be struggling (negocio)
defender algo a capa y espada -> to defend something tooth and nail
hacer de su capa un sayo -> to do as one pleases

2. coat (baño) (de barniz, pintura); coating (de chocolate)

3. layer (estrato); stratum, layer (geology)

4. stratum, class (grupo social)

5. cape (bullfighting)

capa [cah’-pah]

noun

1. Cloak. (f)

2. Mantle. (f)

3. Layer, strata, lamina. (f)

4. Coat or hair of a horse. (f)

5. Cover, anything laid over another. (f)

6. Cloak, pretence or pretext, mask, cover. (Metaphorical) (f)

7. Hider, harborer. (f)

8. Property, fortune. (f)

verb

9. CAUDAL.

10. An American rodent; the spotted cavy.

verb

11. PACA.

12. Among bell-founders, the third mould used in casting bells.

13. Coat of pa

interrogative

14. Bed, stratum, vein, seam, ledge. (Metaphorical & Nautical) (n)

15. (Mas.) Bed, course. (n)

16. Wrapper for tobacco. (n)

Capa del cielo -> (Met.) canopy of heaven
Capa pluvial -> a pluvial or choircope, worn by prelates in processions
Capa y sombrero -> (Naut.) hat-money, allowance per ton to the captain on his cargo; ponerse a la capa, (Naut.) to lie to
Anda -> or ir de capa caída, to be down in the mouth, crestfallen
Echar la capa al toro -> (Met.) to expose oneself to danger
Estar o estarse a la capa -> (Met.) to have a good or sharp lookout
Sacar bien su capa -> (Met.) to disengage oneself from difficulties; (capa rota), (fig.) secret emissary
Capa torera -> bullfighter’s cape
Hacer de su capa un sayo -> to do what one likes with one’s own things, act freely
Comedia de capa y espada -> cloak-and-dagger play
Primera capa -> undercoat
Capas sociales -> social layers
Madera de tres capas -> three-ply wood


Q:	capa y espada
A:	Steve is right - there are two possible interpretations of the phrase. 'A capa y espada' would be similar to saying to defend with buckler and shield,…