‖n. [ F., fr.L. colaphus a cuff, Gr. ko`lafos. ] 1. A sudden stroke delivered with promptness and force; -- used also in various ways to convey the idea of an unexpected, clever, and successful tactic or stratagem. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. A single roll of the wheel at roulette, or a deal at rouge et noir. [ Cant ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. Among some tribes of North American Indians especially of the Great Plains, the act of striking or touching an enemy in warfare with the hand or at close quarters, as with a short stick, in such a manner as by custom to entitle the doer to count the deed an act of bravery; hence, any of various other deeds recognized by custom as acts of bravery or honor.

While the coup was primarily, and usually, a blow with something held in the hand, other acts in warfare which involved great danger to him who performed them were also reckoned coups by some tribes. G. B. Grinnell.

Among the Blackfeet the capture of a shield, bow, gun, war bonnet, war shirt, or medicine pipe was deemed a coup. G. B. Grinnell. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Coup de grace ety>[ F. ], the stroke of mercy with which an executioner ends by death the sufferings of the condemned; hence, a decisive, finishing stroke. --
Coup de main ety>[ F. ] (Mil.), a sudden and unexpected movement or attack. --
Coup de soleil ety>[ F. ] (Med.), a sunstroke. See Sunstroke. --
Coup d'état ety>[ F. ] (Politics), a sudden, decisive exercise of power whereby the existing government is subverted without the consent of the people; an unexpected measure of state, more or less violent; a stroke of policy. --
Coup d'œil [ F. ] (a) A single view; a rapid glance of the eye; a comprehensive view of a scene; as much as can be seen at one view. (b) The general effect of a picture. (c) (Mil.) The faculty or the act of comprehending at a glance the weakness or strength of a military position, of a certain arrangement of troops, the most advantageous position for a battlefield, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

. v. i. To make a coup.

Woe to the Sioux if the Northern Cheyennes get a chance to coup ! F. Remington. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ F. ] Culpable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., fr. coupé, p. p. of couper to cut. See Coppice. ] 1. The front compartment of a French diligence; also, the front compartment (usually for three persons) of a car or carriage on British railways. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A four-wheeled enclosed carriage for two persons inside, with an outside seat for the driver; -- so called because giving the appearance of a larger carriage cut off. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. a two-door automobile with front seats and a luggage compartment. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ F. couper to cut. ] (Her.) Cut off smoothly, as distinguished from erased; -- used especially for the head or limb of an animal. See Erased. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. coupé, n., properly p. p. of couper to cut. Cf. Coupé, Coopee. ] A motion in dancing, when one leg is a little bent, and raised from the floor, and with the other a forward motion is made. Chambers. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., cut throat. ] (Mil.) Any position giving the enemy such advantage that the troops occupying it must either surrender or be cut to pieces. Farrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To come together as male and female; to copulate. [ Obs. ] Milton. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Coupled p. pr. & vb. n. Coupling ] [ F. coupler, fr. L. copulare. See Couple, n., and cf. Copulate, Cobble, v. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To link or tie, as one thing to another; to connect or fasten together; to join. [ 1913 Webster ]

Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds, . . .
And couple Clowder with the deep-mouthed brach. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To join in wedlock; to marry. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A parson who couples all our beggars. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. couple, fr. L. copula a bond, band; co- + apere, aptum, to join. See Art, a., and cf. Copula. ] 1. That which joins or links two things together; a bond or tie; a coupler. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It is in some sort with friends as it is with dogs in couples; they should be of the same size and humor. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

I'll go in couples with her. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Two of the same kind connected or considered together; a pair; a brace. “A couple of shepherds.” Sir P. Sidney. “A couple of drops” Addison. “A couple of miles.” Dickens. “A couple of weeks.” Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Adding one to one we have the complex idea of a couple. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Ziba ] met him with a couple of asses saddled. 2 Sam. xvi. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A male and female associated together; esp., a man and woman who are married or betrothed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such were our couple, man and wife. Lloyd. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fair couple linked in happy, nuptial league. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Arch.) See Couple-close. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Elec.) One of the pairs of plates of two metals which compose a voltaic battery; -- called a voltaic couple or galvanic couple. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mech.) Two rotations, movements, etc., which are equal in amount but opposite in direction, and acting along parallel lines or around parallel axes. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The effect of a couple of forces is to produce a rotation. A couple of rotations is equivalent to a motion of translation. [ 1913 Webster ]