Cap"tion (?), n. [L. captio, fr. caper to take. In senses 3 and 4, perhaps confounded in meaning with L. caput a head. See Capacious.] 1. A caviling; a sophism. [Obs.]

This doctrine is for caption and contradiction.
Bacon.

2. The act of taking or arresting a person by judicial process. [R.] Bouvier.

3. (Law) That part of a legal instrument, as a commission, indictment, etc., which shows where, when, and by what authority, it was taken, found, or executed. Bouvier. Wharton.

4. The heading of a chapter, section, or page. [U. S.]

• A title or brief explanation attached to an illustration or cartoon.
  
• A piece of text appearing on screen as part of a film or broadcast.