coup
1 Americannoun
plural
coups-
a highly successful, unexpected stroke, act, or move; a clever action or accomplishment.
-
(among the Plains Indians of North America) a brave or reckless deed performed in battle by a single warrior, as touching or striking an enemy warrior without sustaining injury oneself.
idioms
verb (used with or without object)
noun
-
a brilliant and successful stroke or action
-
short for coup d'état
verb
noun
verb
Usage
Why is coup trending? On January 6, 2021, interest in the word coup spiked—corresponding with a 962% increase in search interest on Dictionary.com—after a mob of supporters of Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol building on the day Congress was set to certify the electoral vote count to confirm Joe Biden’s presidential election victory. Some journalists, political analysts, and politicians used the word coup to describe the events that occurred at the nation’s capitol.The word coup, in this context, is short for coup d’état, which literally means “stroke of state” in French. Due to its French origin, the final p is not pronounced, making the word sound identical to the word coo.https://twitter.com/SenWarren/status/1346947575975272448https://twitter.com/MaryLTrump/status/1346963110041505794https://twitter.com/RepPressley/status/1346937329928302593
Etymology
Origin of coup1
First recorded in 1640–50; from French: literally, “a blow, stroke,” Old French colp, from Late Latin colpus, from Latin colaphus, from Greek kólaphos
Origin of coup2
First recorded in 1350–1400; likely originally a variant of cope
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
An alleged attempted coup to force him to sell has led to resignations, a work stoppage and a protest.
Telluride, Colo., is embroiled in a “ski-gate” scandal involving an alleged attempted coup to force resort owner Chuck Horning to sell.
A Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2016 for reporting on the abortive Turkish coup, his work has won a string of international awards.
At the time of the coup, Tejero was 48 and had spent his entire adult working life in the Civil Guard, Spain's military police.
From Barron's
Spain's government has released dozens of documents related to an attempted coup that took place 45 years ago - regarded as a key moment in the country's history.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
