Etymology Reborrowed in modern times from modern French coup (“blow, strike”), from Old French coup, colp, from Late Latin colpus, from Latin colaphus. Doublet of cope and colpus. The same Old French word had been borrowed into Middle English as coupe, caupe (with different pronunciation).
1
A quick, brilliant, and highly successful act.
The conference was a major coup for Robarts, who received congratulations for his 'expert handling' of the 'risky venture.'2000, P. E. Bryden, “The Ontario-Quebec Axis: Postwar Strategies in Intergovernmental Negotiations”, in Edgar-André Montigny, Anne Lorene Chambers, editors, Ontario Since Confederation: A Reader, page 399:
While the price was considered a coup for Morgan, enhancing his reputation on Wall Street, Carnegie had a different explanation for his selling price.2004, Charles R. Geisst, Wall Street: A History, page 116:
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"[…]It was quite a coup for Pullen Park to get it. It had been in storage for awhile,^([sic]) and several parks in other places wanted to purchase it."2005, Laryce Henderson Rybka, Legacy of the Lamp, page 252:
Yet the capture of Di María, who was the man of the match when Real won a 10th Champions League in May, represents something a coup for United considering the club are not in Europe’s premier club competition and need to strengthen their squad after the team have let five points slip from the first two matches.2014 August 26, Jamie Jackson, “Ángel di María says Manchester United were the ‘only club’ after Real”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 12 Aug 2021:
The diplomatic messaging of RCEP may be just as important as the economics—a coup for China.2020 November 15, Yen Nee Lee, “‘A coup for China’: Analysts react to the world’s largest trade deal that excludes the U.S.”, in CNBC, archived from the original on 11 Mar 2022:
Just imagine if my predecessor came to this dinner this year. Now that would really have been a real coup if that occurred. [audience gasps] Little tough, huh?2022 April 30, Joe Biden, 1:02 from the start, in President Biden complete remarks at 2022 White House Correspondents' Dinner (C-SPAN), Washington, D.C.: C-SPAN, archived from the original on 01 May 2022:
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US, Historical Of Native Americans, a blow against an enemy delivered in a way that demonstrates bravery.
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”, in Blackfoot Lodge Tales: The Story of a Prairie People, New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, page 248:
Thus, for a horseman to ride over and knock down an enemy, who was on foot, was regarded among the Blackfeet as a coup, for the horseman might be shot at close quarters, or might receive a lance thrust.2007, James Mooney, George Bird Grinnell, Edmund Nequatewa, Native American Ways: Four Paths to Enlightenment, page 316:
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A coup d'état.
Military coups and the military regimes which follow from them are so much a feature of third world politics that their presence or absence in any given region might almost be taken as a rough and ready touchstone of third worldliness.1985, Christopher S. Clapham, Third World Politics: An Introduction, page 137:
It was the military's discontent with what was happening in the country and in the military that led to the first military coup in January 1966. The First Republic was brought to an ignoble end and replaced with a military government.2003, April A. Gordon, Nigeria's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook, page 130:
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The coup was well-planned. Fuel was artificially held back so as to create shortages and dissatisfaction with Brotherhood rule. The old state-controlled unions mounted public sector strikes that further sabotaged the economy and annoyed people. Police-controlled thugs who had been used against the Tahrir Square demonstrations in 2011 came back into action.2013 August 23, Jonathan Steele, “The west has little influence in Egypt”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 11, archived from the original on 05 Jan 2020, page 18:
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Broadly A takeover of one group by another.
Liz Truss’s government is in chaos after the chancellor refused to confirm he would bring forward his budget to calm the markets and the home secretary accused fellow MPs of a coup against the prime minister. […] Backbenchers also expressed outrage at [Suella] Braverman’s suggestion of a “coup” against Truss.2022 October 4, “Truss government in chaos amid budget confusion and coup accusations”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 08 Mar 2023:
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A single roll of the wheel at roulette, or a deal in rouge et noir.
After seven coups he had won six times. He lost on the seventh when thirty came up.1953, Ian Fleming, “Rouge et Noir”, in Casino Royale, London: Pan Books, published 1955, page 50:
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Bridge, Games One of various named strategies employed by the declarer to win more tricks, such as the Bath coup.
Etymology Reborrowed in modern times from modern French coup (“blow, strike”), from Old French coup, colp, from Late Latin colpus, from Latin colaphus. Doublet of cope and colpus. The same Old French word had been borrowed into Middle English as coupe, caupe (with different pronunciation).
1
To execute a coup.
The squaws of another race will sing the death-song of their benefactor, and woe to the Sioux if the Northern Cheyennes get a chance to coup !1895, Frederic Remington, “Lieutenant Casey’s Last Scout”, in Pony Tracks, New York: Harper & Brothers, page 48:
We will coup whoever we want! Deal with it.2020 June 24, Elon Musk, Twitter (tweet), deleted; screenshot and quoted in Alan MacLeod, “United Tesla Company: Widespread Condemnation of Elon Musk's Bolivia Coup Comments”, in MintPress News, 27 July 2020:
In response to the accusation that the US government organised a coup against Evo Morales in Bolivia in order for Tesla to secure lithium there, Musk tweeted: “We will coup whoever we want! Deal with it.”2023 November 25, Douglas Rushkoff, quoting Elon Musk, “‘We will coup whoever we want!’: the unbearable hubris of Musk and the billionaire tech bros”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
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To empty out, overturn, or tilt, such as from a cart or wheelbarrow.
How that he had been couped from hand to hand, ſometimes kept againſt his will as Captive, ſometimes beſieged, ſometimes brought to battle againſt his will by the Duglaſſes to fight againſt the Earl of Lenox, […]c. 1610, James Melvil, edited by George Scott, The Memoires of Sir James Melvil of Hal-hill: Containing an Impartial Account of the Most Remarkable Affairs of State during the Last Age, Not Mention’d by Other Historians: […], London: […] E. H. for Robert Boulter […], published 1683, →OCLC, page 2:
[W]hen he had gotten, beſide twelve chalder of victuall, a hundred pound ſterling a-year, from the Engliſh, out of the ſtipends of other kirks, all contented him not; but he made almoſt a trade of couping horſes.1656 September 11 (Gregorian calendar), Robert Baillie, “For Mr. Spang, at Middelburgh”, in David Laing, editor, The Letters and Journals of Robert Baillie, […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] Robert Ogle, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 323:
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Now after Tom’s return to Scotland, he got a wife, and took a little farm near Dalkeith, and became a very douse man, for many years, following his old business the couping horses and cows, and feeding veals for the slaughter, and the like.[1848?], “Part V.”, in The Comical Tricks of Lothian Tom, with a Selection of Anecdotes, Glasgow: […] [T]he booksellers, →OCLC, pages 20–21:
There’s Billy the Barber for coupin’ see cliver, / Wiv his linties, an’ greenies, gowldspinkies an’ a’— / For a pig or a pup he wad lowp i’ the river, / Still wi’ Fishers an Pilots he likes for to jaw.[1849], J[oseph] P[hilip] Robson, “The Stars o’ Hartlepool. ‘Barbara Bell.’”, in J. P. Robson, editor, Songs of the Bards of the Tyne; or, A Choice Selection of Original Songs Chiefly in the Newcastle Dialect. […], Newcastle upon Tyne: […] P. France & Co., […], →OCLC, page 356:
To Coup, to exchange. “I’ll coup thee,” I will give you this for that. “Will you coup seats with me?” exchange seats. See To Swap.1855, an Inhabitant [pseudonym; Francis Kildale Robinson], A Glossary of Yorkshire Words and Phrases, Collected in Whitby and the Neighbourhood. […], London: John Russell Smith, […], →OCLC, page 37:
Mod[ern] Sc[ottish] I’ll coup knives with you.1884–1928, “Coup, cowp (kɑup), v.¹”, in James A[ugustus] H[enry] Murray [et al.], editors, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume II, London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 1082, column 1: