coup English · revision 10597

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400|origins=fro coup|origins=la colaphus|origins=grc κόλαφος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kuː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|coup|t=a blow]], earlier colp,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from Late Latin colpus,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from Latin colaphus, a blow with the fist, a box on the ear,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) from Greek [[m|grc|κόλαφος|tr=kólaphos|t=a blow, slap]], which Beekes calls a lowly word without clear etymology.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A blow or stroke: about 1400, now obsolete in this sense.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The modern word was taken from French again in the 18th century, as a clever, successful stroke or masterstroke.^(Hoad 1986)^(Collins 2023) The sense of a sudden overthrow of government is from 1852, a shortening of ''coup d'état''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Among some Native American peoples, ''counting coup'' was touching an enemy in battle as a feat of bravery.^(AHD) Etymonline notes that in Modern French the word is a workhorse, used of everything from a pat on the back to thunder and chess moves.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – a blow.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 18th century – a masterstroke.^(Hoad 1986)^(Collins 2023)

+ * 1852 – a coup d'état.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A brilliant and successful move; a [[masterstroke]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Short for ''[[coup d'état]]'', a sudden seizure of government.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Among some Native American peoples, a feat of bravery such as touching an enemy in battle.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[countercoup]]

+ * [[postcoup]]

+ * [[precoup]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[coup d'oeil]]

+ * [[coup de foudre]]

+ * [[coup de main]]

+ * [[cope]]

+ * [[coupe]]

+ * [[coup d'état]]

+ * [[coup de grâce]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The Scots coup /kaʊp/, to upset or overturn, and coup, a rubbish tip, belong to a different word.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}