Definition of COUP

coup

Meanings

Plural: coups

Noun

  • a sudden and decisive change of government illegally or by force
  • a brilliant and notable success
  • A quick, brilliant, and highly successful act.
  • A blow against an enemy delivered in a way that shows bravery.
  • A coup d'état.
  • A takeover of one group by another.
  • A single roll of the wheel at roulette, or a deal in rouge et noir.
  • One of various named strategies employed by the declarer to win more tricks, such as the Bath coup.

Verb

  • To execute a coup.
  • To empty out, overturn, or tilt, such as from a cart or wheelbarrow.
  • To subject a nation to a coup d'état.
  • To exchange, barter.

Origin / Etymology

Reborrowed in modern times from modern French coup (“blow, strike”), from Old French coup, colp, from Late Latin colpus, from Latin colaphus. Doublet of cope and colpus. The same Old French word had been borrowed into Middle English as coupe, caupe (with different pronunciation).

Synonyms

coup d'etat, putsch, takeover, triumph

Scrabble Score: 8

coup is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
coup is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
coup is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

coup is a valid Words With Friends word