coup (ko)

[F., a stroke, blow: see coup1, n.] 1. A stroke or blow, especially a sudden stroke, implying promptne and force: a French word used in English in various French phrases, or singly, with conscious reference to its French use.-2. Specifically, with reference to the northwestern tribes of the Indians of North America, a stroke that captures the weapon or horse of an enemy; hence, victory over an enemy. Now, when all the presents had been given to the Sun, each warrior in turn counted his coups that is, his succe es in war. Forest and Stream . He followed closely on the trail of the savages, bided his time, struck his coup, and recovered a pair of packhorses, which was all he required. Life in the Far West. 3. A coup d'état; a stroke of policy. See below. A tyranny which it required the bloodshed and the coup of the 9th Thermidor to overthrow. W. R. Greg, Misc. E ays, 2d ser., p. 105. Coup d'archet (ko dar-sha'), in music , a stroke of a bow. Coup de fouet (ko de fo-a'), in fencing , the act of lashing the adversary's extended blade by a firm dry beat or jerk, in order to disarm him. Rolando (ed. Forsyth).Coup de grâce (kö de gras) (literally, a stroke of mercy), the finishing stroke, as in despatching a condemned man with a single blow, or an animal that is mortally wounded, to put it out of its misery; hence, a quietus; anything that thoroughly defeats or silences an opponent. - Coup de main (kö dé mań) (literally, a stroke with the hand), in war, a sudden attack by main force; hence, any sudden, energetic action intended to effect a purpose by surprise. - Coup de soleil (ko dé so-lay'), a sunstroke.- Coup d'état (kö da-ta) (literally, a stroke of state), a sudden decisive measure in politics; a stroke of policy; specifi cally, an important and usually unlooked for change in forms and methods government, by the ruling power or by a party, effected illegally or by forced inter pretation of law, or by violence or intrigue, for the benefit of an individual or a cabal. The principal coups d'état in French history, distinctively so called, are that of November 9th, 1799 (18th Brumaire, year VIII., in the republican calendar), when Napoleon Bonaparte forcibly suppre ed the Directory, and that of December 2d, 1851, when Louis Napoleon as president broke up the National A embly by force of arms and made himself temporarily dictator, preparatory to becoming emperor as Napoleon III. a year later. The news of the coup d'état took England by surprise. A shock went through the whole country. Never probably was public opinion more unanimous, for the hour at least, than in condemnation of the stroke of policy ventured on by Louis Napoleon, and the savage manner in which it was carried to succe . J. McCarthy, Hist. Own Times, xxii. Coup de théâtre (kö dê tä-ä'tr), a theatrical hit; a brilliant or exciting turn or trick in a play; hence, any sudden and showy action having the effect of exciting surprise or admiration by means more or le sensational. - Coup d'œil (kö dėy). (a) A glance of the eye; general view. An acacia tree or two on the eastern side, and behind it a wall-like line of mud-houses, finish the coup d'œil. R. F. Burton , El-Medinah, p. 241. Specifically (b) Milit., that talent for rapid observation and generalization by which an officer is enabled by a glance to estimate the advantages and disadvantages of a field of battle for attack and defense, and thus to post his troops without delay so as to make the most of it.To count a coup, to be credited with a victory won in battle: said of the northwestern tribes of North American Indians. Singularly enough, the taking of a scalp does not count a coup , neither does the killing of an enemy. To count a coup , the person must take a bow or weapon or the horse of an enemy, and must have witne es present to prove it. He must also bring with him the arms by which he counts his coups . Forest and Stream. coupablet, a. A Middle English variant of cul pable. Chaucer.