coup
Pluralcoups
Pluralcoups
- 1
- 2A smart, surprising move that works very well.
Like winning a game with one clever move no one saw coming.
Getting the famous band to play at our school dance was a huge coup.
The small store pulled off a coup by selling the new phone before anyone else.
UsageSay it was a big coup for her.
Similartriumph
- 3To take power suddenly by force, or to remove a government this way.
Researchers ask why some armies coup while others stay loyal.
Political scientists study when generals are most likely to coup.
Note
Less common meanings
- 4A blow or touch against an enemy that showed a warrior's bravery, in some Native American traditions.
He earned great honor for each coup he counted in battle.
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”Here, coup means a brave blow or deed against an enemy that shows courage.UsagePeople say a warrior counted coup.
Note
- 5In the card game bridge, a clever play that helps a player win more rounds of cards.
- 6In games like roulette, a single spin of the wheel or a single round of play.
- 7To tip something over or empty it out, for example from a cart.
- 8To trade or swap one thing for another.
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
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Origin
It comes from modern French coup, meaning 'blow' or 'strike', which goes back through Old French to Latin colaphus.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- English coup comes from modern French coup. en.wiktionary.org
- French coup means 'blow' or 'strike'. en.wiktionary.org
- French coup goes back through Old French to Latin colaphus. en.wiktionary.org