COPE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English -cāp, from Late Latin cappa head covering Date: 13th century a long enveloping ecclesiastical vestment, 2. something resembling a ~ (as by concealing or covering) , coping , II. transitive verb (~d; coping) Date: 14th century to cover or furnish with a ~, III. verb (~d; coping) Etymology: Middle English ~n, coupen, from Anglo-French couper to strike, cut, from cop, colp blow, from Late Latin colpus, alteration of Latin colaphus, from Greek kolaphos buffet Date: 14th century intransitive verb strike , fight , 2. to maintain a contest or combat usually on even terms or with success, to deal with and attempt to overcome problems and difficulties, meet , encounter , transitive verb to meet in combat, to come in contact with, match , IV. transitive verb (~d; coping) Etymology: probably from French couper to cut Date: circa 1901 to shape (a structural member) to fit a coping or conform to the shape of another member, notch