coup French · revision 15841

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=881, Sequence of Saint Eulalia|origins=grc κόλαφος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ku/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''coup''' ''m'' (plural coups)^(Wiktionary)

+ [[fro|colp]], [[m|fro|cop]], [[m|fro|col]], ''coup'' from 1268.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|colp]], [[inh|la-lat|colpus|t=blow]] (Salic Law), a popular syncopated form of [[la|colaphus|t=blow with the fist, cuff]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|2, 865a) which transcribes [[grc|κόλαφος|tr=kólaphos|t=slap]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) Rey reports a proposal to derive the Greek word from [[m|grc|κολάπτω|tr=koláptō|t=to peck, chisel]];^(DHLF 1992) Beekes, quoted by Etymonline, calls it a lowly word without clear etymology.^(Etymonline) The Latin word replaced classical [[m|la|ictus]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|colpo]], [[oc|cop]], [[ca|cop]], [[es|golpe]] and [[pt|golpe]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Sequence of Saint Eulalia'' (881) has ''colp'' for a blow, the movement by which one body strikes another.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ About 1100 the ''Chanson de Roland'' uses it for the mark left by a blow and for a feat of arms;^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873) the sense of effect or shock (''coup au cœur'', 1606) follows about 1250.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) About 1190 it meant a sudden event, good or bad, whence ''coup de hasard'' (1538) and ''coup de théâtre'' (1743).^(TLFi) It names the sudden action of the elements (''coup de tonnerre'', 1200–1206), a throw of the dice (13th century) and the firing of a gun (''coup de bombarde'', about 1470).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ From the 13th century it also meant “a time, an occasion”: ''a cest coup'' (1268), ''d'un seul cop'' (about 1320), ''tout a cop'' (about 1450) and ''après le coup'' (Commynes, about 1470);^(TLFi) ''boire un coup'' is in Froissart.^(TLFi) Thieves' slang has ''faire un bon coup'' (1781–1798).^(BHVF)^(TLFi) English took ''coup'' “sudden decisive act” in 1852, short for ''coup d'état''.^(Etymonline) Etymonline notes that in modern French the word is a workhorse used of anything from a pat on the back to a gunshot or a chess move.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 881 – ''Colp'' in the ''Sequence of Saint Eulalia''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1100 – A feat of arms, in the ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1190 – A sudden event.^(TLFi)

+ * 1268 – ''A cest coup'' “this time”.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1470 – ''Coup de bombarde'', ''après le coup''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1606 – ''Coup au cœur''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1743 – ''Coup de théâtre''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1852 – English ''coup''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|blow]], knock, hit: ''un coup de poing'', ''un coup de couteau''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # The mark or effect of a blow; a moral shock: ''un coup dur''.^(Larousse)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A shot: ''un coup de feu''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A sudden action or event: ''coup de tonnerre'', ''coup de foudre'', ''coup du sort''.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+ # A quick movement: ''coup d'œil'', ''coup de fil'', ''coup de main''.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # A move in a game; a stroke in sport.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A planned action, scheme: ''faire un coup'', ''coup d'État'', ''(slang)'' a [[m|en|heist]].^(Wiktionary)^(BHVF)

+ # A time, an instance: ''à tous les coups'', ''du premier coup'', ''tout à coup''.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # A drink: ''boire un coup''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[couper]]

+ * [[coupe]]

+ * [[couperet]]

+ * [[coupon]]

+ * [[coupure]]

+ * [[entrecouper]]

+ * [[recouper]]

+ * [[coupe-jarret]]

+ * [[beaucoup]]

+ * [[contrecoup]]

+ * [[à-coup]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[grc|κόλαφος|tr=kólaphos]]

+ * [[en|coup]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}