[koo dey-tah; Fr. koo dey-ta] 
[koo dey-tahz; Fr. koo dey-ta] . | a sudden and decisive action in politics, esp. one resulting in a change of government illegally or by force. |
| coup d'é·tat (kōō' dā-tä') n. pl. coups d'état (kōō') or coup d'états (dā-täz') The sudden overthrow of a government by a usually small group of persons in or previously in positions of authority. [French : coup, blow, stroke + de, of + état, state.] |