coup
Pluralcoups
Pluralcoups
- 1A sudden, often illegal seizure of power, especially from a government by the military or insiders, or within any group or organization.
Generals staged a coup and dissolved the parliament within hours.
The young democracy survived two attempted coups in its first decade.
UsageArmies stage a coup; common phrases are a military coup and an attempted coup.
Similartakeover, putsch, overthrow
Note
Christopher Clapham, in 1985, treats 'military coups and the military regimes which follow from them' as almost a touchstone of third-world politics. The same word also covers a sudden takeover of a cabinet, a party or a club.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Clapham's statement appeared in Third World Politics: An Introduction, first published in 1985. comparativepoliticsme.com
- Clapham uses the quoted wording and describes the presence or absence of military coups and subsequent regimes as a possible touchstone of third-world politics. comparativepoliticsme.com
- 2A quick, brilliant, and highly successful act or achievement.
Landing the exclusive interview was a major coup for the young journalist.
The museum's acquisition of the rare manuscript counted among the director's greatest coups.
UsageUsually a coup for whoever benefits, and you pull off a coup.
Similartriumph
- 3To carry out a coup, or to overthrow a government by one.
The paper compares armies that couped with armies that stayed loyal to elected leaders.
Analysts believe the faction could coup before the transition is complete.
Note
Frederic Remington's Pony Tracks (1895) uses it in the warrior's world: 'woe to the Sioux if the Northern Cheyennes get a chance to coup.' There it means striking a blow of bravery, not seizing a government.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Frederic Remington wrote Pony Tracks, first published in 1895. digitalcollections.stlawu.edu
- The quoted words occur in Remington's own narration in Pony Tracks. gutenberg.org
- Remington's passage concerns the Native American warrior practice of coup, rather than overthrowing a government. gutenberg.org
Less common meanings
- 4A blow against an enemy delivered by a Native American warrior in a way that demonstrated bravery.
He earned his first coup by striking an armed enemy with only a riding whip.
Among the Blackfeet the capture of a shield, bow, gun, war bonnet, war shirt, or medicine pipe was deemed a coup.
1892, George Bird Grinnell, “The Blackfoot in War”UsageThe set phrase is count coup: a warrior counted coup on an enemy.
Note
Here the word names a warrior's honor rather than a political act, and it belongs to American history. George Bird Grinnell, writing of the Blackfeet in 1892, counts the capture of a shield, bow, gun or war bonnet as a coup. Riding down an enemy on foot counts too, because the horseman might be shot or speared at close quarters. The bravery lay in the risk, not in the damage done.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 5 facts
- This historical American sense concerns a Native American warrior's bravery and honor. en.wiktionary.org
- George Bird Grinnell's account appeared in Blackfoot Lodge Tales, first published in 1892. nebraskapress.unl.edu
- Grinnell says that capturing a shield, bow, gun or war bonnet counted as a coup among the Blackfeet. gutenberg.org
- Grinnell says that riding over an enemy on foot counted as a coup because the rider risked being shot or struck with a lance. gutenberg.org
- The coup demonstrated bravery through exposure to danger; injuring the enemy was not necessary. gutenberg.org
- 5In bridge, one of various named strategies employed by the declarer to win additional tricks, such as the Bath coup.
- 6In roulette, one spin of the wheel; in rouge et noir, one deal of the cards.
- 7To empty out, overturn, or tilt (a load or container), as from a cart or wheelbarrow.
- 8To exchange or barter (goods or possessions).
Mod[ern] Sc[ottish] I’ll coup knives with you.
1884, “Coup, cowp (kɑup), v.¹”, in James A[ugustus] H[enry] Murray [et al.]
Showing meanings only.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of coup apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
This was reborrowed in modern times from modern French coup ('blow, strike'), which came from Old French coup or colp, from Late Latin colpus, from Latin colaphus. It is a doublet of cope.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 6 facts
- Coup was reborrowed in modern times from modern French. en.wiktionary.org
- French coup means 'blow' or 'strike'. en.wiktionary.org
- French coup descends from Old French coup or colp. en.wiktionary.org
- The Old French word derives from Late Latin colpus. en.wiktionary.org
- Late Latin colpus derives from Latin colaphus. en.wiktionary.org
- Coup is a doublet of cope. en.wiktionary.org