# coup

Pronunciation: say "KOO" US /ku/, UK /kuː/

## Noun

1. A sudden, often illegal seizure of power, especially from a government by the military or insiders, or within any group or organization.
   - Simple: A sudden takeover of power, usually of a government by soldiers, or of any group by insiders.
   - _Generals staged a coup and dissolved the parliament within hours._
   - _The young democracy survived two attempted coups in its first decade._
2. A quick, brilliant, and highly successful act or achievement.
   - Simple: A smart, surprising move that works very well.
   - _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._
4. A blow against an enemy delivered by a Native American warrior in a way that demonstrated bravery. *(US)*
   - Simple: A blow or touch against an enemy that showed a warrior's bravery, in some Native American traditions.
   - _He earned his first coup by striking an armed enemy with only a riding whip._
   - _Warriors recounted their coups around the fire, each touch of an enemy a mark of honor._

## Verb

3. To carry out a coup, or to overthrow a government by one.
   - Simple: To take power suddenly by force, or to remove a government this way.
   - _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._

## Other meanings

- (noun) In bridge, one of various named strategies employed by the declarer to win additional tricks, such as the Bath coup.
- (noun) In roulette, one spin of the wheel; in rouge et noir, one deal of the cards.
- (verb) To empty out, overturn, or tilt (a load or container), as from a cart or wheelbarrow.
- (verb) To exchange or barter (goods or possessions).

## 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.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/coup (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).