1899; never defined in a generally accepted way. Early use with reference to British India; later often of everything between Egypt and Iran. Hence Middle-Eastern (1903).

1860, "act of converting (assets) to capital," noun of action from capitalize in the financial sense. The meaning "act of writing or printing in capital letters" is recorded from 1847, from the writing sense.

North Korean capital, from Korean p'yong "flat" + yang "land."

Nepalese capital, from Nepalese Kathmandu, from kath "wooden" + mandu "temple."

1704, of a letter, "capital;" 1738 as a noun, "a capital letter," from French majuscule (16c.), from Latin maiuscula (littera), fem. of maiusculus "somewhat larger, somewhat greater," diminutive of maior (see major (adj.)).

Lebanese capital, from Hebrew, literally "the wells," from be'erot, plural of be'er "well."

Cambodian capital, literally "mountain of plenty," from Cambodian phnom "mountain, hill" + penh "full."

"of or pertaining to Lake Mareotis" in Lower Egypt, from Latin Mareoticus, from Greek Mareōtikos, from Mareōtis (limne), from Egyptian Mer, Mir, name of a city on the lake.

Biblical name of the fertile land settled by the Israelites in Egypt; light shone there during the plague of darkness (Genesis xxxxv.10). The name is of unknown origin.

Moroccan capital, from Arabic ar-ribat, from ribat "fortified monastery."