October 2006

Word Profile: coup

The Thai army's September coup sent that word to the No.19 spot on the most looked-up words list. This sense of coup means coup d'etat, but that isn't the only coup term to have moved from French into English. See the selection of terms from the Unabridged Dictionary—there's a little something for everyone from violinists to chess players to playwrights.

coup d'archet : a stroke of the bow in violin playing

coup de foudre [clap of thunder] : an astonishing occurrence, especially overwhelming love at first sight

coup de glotte : the glottal stop especially in singing and elocution

coup de grace [stroke of mercy] : a death blow or shot administered to end the suffering of one mortally wounded; a decisive finishing blow, act, or event

coup de main [stroke of the hand] : a sudden attack in force; vigorous attack

coup de repos [stroke of rest] : chess move leaving the main feature of a position unchanged when the adversary can change these only to his or her disadvantage

coup de theatre [stroke of theater] : a sudden and sensational turn in a play; a sudden dramatic and unexpected stroke or turn of events

coup d'oeil [stroke of the eye] : a glance embracing a wide view; a survey accomplished with a glance