1175-1225; Middle English; (adj.) (< Anglo-French) < Latin capitālis of thehead ( capit-, stem of caput head, + -ālis -al1); (noun) < Medieval Latincapitāle wealth, noun use of neuter of capitālis (adj.)
A capital crime (1520s) is one that affects the life or "head;" capital had a sense of "deadly, mortal" from late 14c. in English, a sense also found in Latin. The felt connection between "head" and "life, mortality" also existed in Old English: as in heafodgilt "deadly sin, capital offense," heafdes þolian "to forfeit life." Capital punishment was in Blackstone (1765) and classical Latin capitis poena. Capital gain is recorded from 1921. Capital goods is recorded from 1899. Related: Capitally.