I. ˈkau̇p, ˈkōp, ˈkəu̇p transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English coupen to pay for, from Old Norse kaupa to buy — more at cheap
dialect Britain : exchange , barter
II. ˈkəu̇p noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English caupe blow, from Middle French coup — more at cope
chiefly Scotland : fall , tumble , upset
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English cowpen to strike, from Middle French couper — more at cope
transitive verb
1. chiefly Scotland : overturn , upset
2. chiefly Scotland : to drink off : drain
intransitive verb
chiefly Scotland : upset , capsize
IV. ˈkü noun
( plural coups -üz)
Etymology: French — more at cope
1.
a. : blow , stroke
b. : the act practiced by some American Indians (as the Plains Indians) of striking or touching an enemy in warfare in such a manner as is by custom considered a deed of bravery
c. : any of various acts recognized by custom as laudatory
2.
a. English billiards : the pocketing of the cue ball without its touching another ball
b. : a roll of a roulette wheel, cast of dice, deal of cards, or similar event after which bets are settled
c. : an end play in bridge in which declarer trumps to reduce his trump holdings to avoid being forced to lead from his own hand at an inopportune later time
d. : a particularly brilliant or skilled play in a board game or card game
3.
a. : a highly successful stroke, action, plan, or stratagem : a clever device
a clever fraud which, like many other coups of history, used religion as its chief vehicle — R.W.Murray
b. : coup d'etat
V. transitive verb
( couped -üd ; couped “ ; couping -üiŋ ; coups -üz)
: to execute a bridge coup in playing (a hand)