coup

views updated May 18 2018

coup / koō/ • n. (pl. coups / koōz/ ) 1. (also coup d'é·tat) a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government.2. a notable or successful stroke or move. ∎  an unusual or unexpected but successful tactic in card play.3. hist. (among North American Indians) an act of touching an armed enemy in battle as a deed of bravery, or an act of first touching an item of the enemy's in order to claim it.

coup

views updated Jun 11 2018

coup XVIII. — F. (see COPE 2).