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coup

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Coup  \Coup\  (k[=oo]),  n. 
  1.  A  single  roll  of  the  wheel  at  roulette,  or  a  deal  at  rouge 
  et  noir.  [Cant] 
 
  2.  Among  some  tribes  of  North  American  Indians,  the  act  of 
  striking  or  touching  an  enemy  in  warfare  with  the  hand  or 
  at  close  quarters,  as  with  a  short  stick,  in  such  a  manner 
  as  by  custom  to  entitle  the  doer  to  count  the  deed  an  act 
  of  bravery;  hence  any  of  various  other  deeds  recognized 
  by  custom  as  acts  of  bravery  or  honor. 
 
  While  the  coup  was  primarily,  and  usually,  a  blow 
  with  something  held  in  the  hand,  other  acts  in 
  warfare  which  involved  great  danger  to  him  who 
  performed  them  were  also  reckoned  coups  by  some 
  tribes.  --G.  B. 
  Grinnell. 
 
  Among  the  Blackfeet  the  capture  of  a  shield,  bow, 
  gun,  war  bonnet,  war  shirt,  or  medicine  pipe  was 
  deemed  a  coup.  --G.  B. 
  Grinnell. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Coup  \Coup\  v.  i. 
  To  make  a  coup. 
 
  Woe  to  the  Sioux  if  the  Northern  Cheyennes  get  a  chance 
  to  coup  !  --F. 
  Remington. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Coup  \Coup\  (k??),  n.  [F.,  fr.L.  colaphus  a  cuff,  Gr  ????.] 
  A  sudden  stroke;  an  unexpected  device  or  stratagem;  --  a  term 
  used  in  various  ways  to  convey  the  idea  of  promptness  and 
  force. 
 
  {Coup  de  grace}  (k??"  de  gr?s")  [F.],  the  stroke  of  mercy 
  with  which  an  executioner  ends  by  death  the  sufferings  of 
  the  condemned;  hence  a  decisive,  finishing  stroke. 
 
  {Coup  de  main}  (k??`  de  m?n`)  [F.]  (Mil.),  a  sudden  and 
  unexpected  movement  or  attack. 
 
  {Coup  de  soleil}  (k??`  d  s?-l?l  or  -l?"y')  [F.]  (Med.),  a 
  sunstroke.  See  {Sunstroke}. 
 
  {Coup  d'['e]tat}  (k??"  d?-t?")  [F.]  (Politics),  a  sudden, 
  decisive  exercise  of  power  whereby  the  existing  government 
  is  subverted  without  the  consent  of  the  people;  an 
  unexpected  measure  of  state,  more  or  less  violent;  a 
  stroke  of  policy. 
 
  {Coup  d'[oe]il}  (k[=oo]`  d[~e]l").  [F.] 
  a  A  single  view;  a  rapid  glance  of  the  eye;  a  comprehensive 
  view  of  a  scene;  as  much  as  can  be  seen  at  one  view. 
  b  The  general  effect  of  a  picture. 
  c  (Mil.)  The  faculty  or  the  act  of  comprehending  at  a 
  glance  the  weakness  or  strength  of  a  military  position, 
  of  a  certain  arrangement  of  troops,  the  most  advantageous 
  position  for  a  battlefield,  etc 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  coup 
  n  1:  a  sudden  and  decisive  change  of  government  illegally  or  by 
  force  [syn:  {coup  d'etat},  {putsch},  {takeover}] 
  2:  a  brilliant  and  notable  success




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