Milkcaps

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small, round, collectible toy caps often used in children's games or as tokens; these items resemble bottle caps and are typically made of metal or plastic; they commonly feature colorful designs and are used for play or as trade items
2. Circular objects similar to bottle caps, designed as playthings for children to collect and use in various games; they are usually made from plastic or metal and boast bright, decorative patterns symbolizing different characters or themes
3. Toy caps that imitate the size and shape of bottle tops, intended for collection and recreational use by kids; crafted from lightweight materials like metal or plastic, they often display vivid images and serve as game pieces or collectible novelties

Etymology: "Milkcaps" is simply the plural of "milkcap", so the real story lies in the singular. A milkcap is a small cap, the kind that pops off a bottle, and the word is a plain compound of "milk" and "cap". The name reflects the origin of the caps themselves: they were originally the metal tops sealed onto glass bottles of milk, which is why children later took them up as playthings. Once bottles of milk were sold with these caps, collecting and trading the discarded tops became a playground pastime, and the toys kept the name long after the bottles had changed.