Hello,

Has anyone heard the phrase "Danish caper"? Is it the same as "Dutch caper" which, I guess, means a pirate?

Thanks
Priya

Only references to Danish caper" on Google are to a film said to be a remake of "Danish caper". Attempts to find this film lead me only to a film called "Klatretøsen". I think "caper" in this context is the slang term meaning a theft. The privateer sense seems to be a general term and not specifically Dutch. The two terms are apparently not related.

I've never heard of the phrase before.

Sorry, priya - I've never encountered the term either. Welcome, though - perhaps someone else will know sumtin' useful.

It all depends on the context!

There is this, which seems to relate to something like a letter of marque, note the lines in red:

“The loss of the navy can only be described with one word! It was catastrophic for Denmark-Norway, there was neither time, economics or enough oak trees to build a new navy.
Therefore the decision was made to put all efforts into the building of smaller gunboats in large numbers. The advantages in the gunboats were that they could be built fast in large numbers and in every part of the country.
Another was that they could be placed all over the country along the coastlines where they would sit and wait fishing for the British convoys to pas by.
Guerilla warfare at sea had begun.
In June, 1808, gunboats succeeded in capturing the first two British war ships, the TICKLER and the TURBULENT.
While the navy were mass producing gunboats, piracy was now made legal.
King Frederik VI sent out rules of engagement and now any one could be granted Caper rights, set sail and claim any enemy ships to be Danish-Norwegian.
During the war 1807-1814 a total of 10 British warships and quite a large number of trade ships were taken by these gunboats.”

Then again, there is a film (released in 2003) called ‘Rembrandt’ about an art theft in Denmark that certainly could be called the Danish caper.

There is also a Danish venture scout group:

http://www.capersapiens.dk/

As I said it depends on context. I did wonder if Capparis spinosa was grown, perhaps under glass, in Denmark; but it seems not.

until you comment (and that required thought!) i hadn't at all thought of 'capers' (the spice).

a caper is a lark-- a not quite legal, a prank.

(like when the local teens planned a heist and stole the 20 ft high ronald mcd. inflatable off McD's (and didn't make off with him.) they just carried him arcoss the street and set up so he over looked McD's instead of sitting on top of it.

that is a caper..(and i am sure the english navy captains, who saw fishermen, in long boats, were unconcerned.. and quite surprized when they fishermen took out guns, and commendeered the ship!--a bit more serious business, but a neutral observer would have found it quite amusing.

Or, could it be a reference to "Danish caper sauce" used in traditional Viking fish recipes?

"The caper is actually the unopened bud of the caper bush, a spiny perennial shrub that reaches a height of 1 metre or more. It grows on dry stony ground in warm climates, and is found in olive-growing regions, particularly the Mediterranean. The buds are picked by hand, with the youngest, smallest ones being the most highly-prized. They are then pickled in vinegar or preserved in salt. Capers' particular pungency comes from the mustard oil they contain, and curing helps bring out their piquant flavour. They are graded according to size, the smallest being "nonpareilles," followed by "surfines," and then the larger and less valuable "capucines" and "communes."

http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/vegetables/general/capers.htm

I used to know a fellow who treated himself every now and again to a breakfast of fried "capers" [which were actually herring, I think].

some one might eat fried herring and call them capers--but the more common word is kippers.
kippers are smoked herrings, (often sold in cans, packed in oil) and a common breakfast food in many parts of the world.

Kippers for breakfast – what a treat, provided they are the real, fat, bony fish which have been smoked and then grilled but not processed in any other way. Being an oily fish they have lots of Omega 3 and are very good for you, so you win all round. The thin, filleted, vacuum packed variety are not nearly so tasty but still good for you.

And then there was the great capered pickled herring theft - the capered kipper caper - stolen by caped men off the cape...

Rm

but the more common word is kippers

Yes, that's the word he used: kippers, not capers. Thanks, Of Tory.

the capered kipper caper

Very good, Rainmaker. That would make an excellent caption for a photo:

"The Capered Kipper Caper" caption.