12 results for: Coup

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

coup1

–noun, plural coups

Audio Help [kooz; Fr. koo] Pronunciation Key.

1.	a highly successful, unexpected stroke, act, or move; a clever action or accomplishment.

2.	(among the Plains Indians of North America) a brave or reckless deed performed in battle by a single warrior, as touching or striking an enemy warrior without sustaining injury oneself.

3.	coup d'état.

—Idiom

count coup, (among Plains Indians of North America)

a.	to perform a coup.

b.	to recount or relate the coups one has performed.

[Origin: 1640–50; < F: lit., blow, stroke, OF colp < LL colpus, L colaphus < Gk kólaphos

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Coup

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

coup2

Audio Help [kohp, koop] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object), verb (used without object) Scot.

overturn; upset.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME coupe to pay for < ON kaupa to buy, barter; c. OE céapian, G kaufen. See cheap

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

coup Audio Help (kōō) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. coups (kōōz)

A brilliantly executed stratagem; a triumph.
1. A coup d'état.
2. A sudden appropriation of leadership or power; a takeover: a boardroom coup.
Among certain Native American peoples, a feat of bravery performed in battle, especially the touching of an enemy's body without causing injury.

[French, stroke, from Old French colp, from Late Latin colpus, from Latin colaphus, from Greek kolaphos.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
coup

c.1400, from O.Fr. colp "to cut, strike," from M.L. colpus, from V.L. colapus, from L. colaphus "a cuff, box on the ear," from Gk. kolaphos "a blow, slap." Coup d'étate is 1646, from Fr., lit. "stroke of the state." Coup de grâce is 1699, lit. "stroke of grace."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

coup
noun
1.	a sudden and decisive change of government illegally or by force [syn: coup d'etat]
2.	a brilliant and notable success

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
coup1 [kuː] noun

a sudden successful action
Example: He achieved a real coup by completing this deal.

Arabic:	ضَربة مُفاجِئة ناجِحَـه
Chinese (Simplified):	突然的行动
Chinese (Traditional):	突然的行動
Czech:	skvělý tah
Danish:	kup
Dutch:	goede zet
Estonian:	meisterlik saavutus
Finnish:	onnistuminen, läpimurto
French:	(beau) coup
German:	der Coup
Greek:	εύστοχη ενέργεια, άθλος
Hungarian:	tett
Icelandic:	snilldarbragð, snjallræði
Indonesian:	tindakan
Italian:	colpo maestro*

Japanese:	大成功
Korean:	대성공
Latvian:	sekmīgs darījums; veikls gājiens
Lithuanian:	netikėta sėkmė, persilaužimas
Norwegian:	kupp
Polish:	przełom, wielki sukces
Portuguese (Brazil):	golpe
Portuguese (Portugal):	golpe
Romanian:	lovitură, reuşită
Russian:	удачный ход
Slovak:	(dobrý) ťah
Slovenian:	podvig
Spanish:	logro
Swedish:	kupp
Turkish:	çok başarılı iş

coup2 [kuː] noun

a coup d'état
Example: There's been a coup in one of the African republics.

Arabic:	إنقِلاب فُجائي (عَسكَري)
Chinese (Simplified):	政变
Chinese (Traditional):	政變
Czech:	převrat
Danish:	statskup
Dutch:	staatsgreep
Estonian:	riigipööre
Finnish:	vallankaappaus
French:	coup d'État
German:	der Putsch
Greek:	πραξικόπημα
Hungarian:	puccs
Icelandic:	valdarán
Indonesian:	makar
Italian:	colpo di Stato*

Japanese:	クーデター
Korean:	쿠데타
Latvian:	valsts apvērsums
Lithuanian:	perversmas
Norwegian:	statskupp
Polish:	przewrót
Portuguese (Brazil):	golpe
Portuguese (Portugal):	golpe de estado
Romanian:	lovitură de stat
Russian:	государственный переворот
Slovak:	prevrat
Slovenian:	državni udar
Spanish:	golpe de estado
Swedish:	kupp
Turkish:	hükümet darbesi

See also: coup d'état

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
coup [(kooh)]

In politics, an abbreviation for coup d'état.

[Chapter:] World Politics

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Coup

Coup\ (k??), n. [F., fr.L. colaphus a cuff, Gr. ????.] A sudden stroke; an unexpected device or stratagem; -- a term used in various ways to convey the idea of promptness and force.

Coup de grace (k??" de gr?s") [F.], the stroke of mercy with which an executioner ends by death the sufferings of the condemned; hence, a decisive, finishing stroke.

Coup de main (k??` de m?n`) [F.] (Mil.), a sudden and unexpected movement or attack.

Coup de soleil (k??` d s?-l?l or -l?"y') [F.] (Med.), a sunstroke. See Sunstroke.

Coup d'['e]tat (k??" d?-t?") [F.] (Politics), a sudden, decisive exercise of power whereby the existing government is subverted without the consent of the people; an unexpected measure of state, more or less violent; a stroke of policy.

Coup d'[oe]il (k[=oo]` d[~e]l"). [F.] (a) A single view; a rapid glance of the eye; a comprehensive view of a scene; as much as can be seen at one view. (b) The general effect of a picture. (c) (Mil.) The faculty or the act of comprehending at a glance the weakness or strength of a military position, of a certain arrangement of troops, the most advantageous position for a battlefield, etc.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Coup

Coup\ (k[=oo]), n. 1. A single roll of the wheel at roulette, or a deal at rouge et noir. [Cant]

2. Among some tribes of North American Indians, the act of striking or touching an enemy in warfare with the hand or at close quarters, as with a short stick, in such a manner as by custom to entitle the doer to count the deed an act of bravery; hence, any of various other deeds recognized by custom as acts of bravery or honor.

While the coup was primarily, and usually, a blow with something held in the hand, other acts in warfare which involved great danger to him who performed them were also reckoned coups by some tribes. --G. B. Grinnell.

Among the Blackfeet the capture of a shield, bow, gun, war bonnet, war shirt, or medicine pipe was deemed a coup. --G. B. Grinnell.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Coup

Coup\ v. i. To make a coup.

Woe to the Sioux if the Northern Cheyennes get a chance to coup ! --F. Remington.

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