I. ˈkə-pəl; “couple of” is often ˌkə-plə(v) noun
Etymology: Middle English, pair, bond, from Anglo-French cuple, from Latin copula bond, from co- + apere to fasten — more at apt
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : two persons married, engaged, or otherwise romantically paired
b. : two persons paired together
2. : pair , brace
3. : something that joins or links two things together: as
a. : two equal and opposite forces that act along parallel lines
b. : a pair of substances that in contact with an electrolyte participate in a transfer of electrons which causes an electric current to flow
4. : an indefinite small number : few
a couple of days ago
• cou·ple·dom -dəm noun
II. ˈkə-pəl verb
( cou·pled ; cou·pling -p(ə-)liŋ)
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to connect for consideration together
b. : to join for combined effect
2.
a. : to fasten together : link
b. : to bring (two electric circuits) into such close proximity as to permit mutual influence
3. : to join in marriage or sexual union
intransitive verb
1. : to unite in sexual union
2. : join
3. : to unite chemically
III. adjective
Date: 1924
: two ; also : few — used with a
a couple drinks
Usage:
The adjective use of a couple, without of, has been called nonstandard, but it is not. In both British and American English it is standard before a word (as more or less ) indicating degree
a couple more examples of Middle English writing — Charles Barber
Its use before an ordinary plural noun is an Americanism, common in speech and in writing that is not meant to be formal or elevated
the first couple chapters are pretty good — E. B. White (letter)
still operated a couple wagons for hire — Garrison Keillor
It is most frequently used with periods of time
a couple weeks
and numbers
a couple hundred
a couple dozen