coup

. 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. 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 ]