DCHP-1 Online

coup † [< Cdn F in this sense < F coup a blow] Hist.

• 1 n. among the Plains Indians: the act of striking or touching an enemy in warfare with the bow, the gun, or a ceremonial coupstick (def. 2).

  See also: coupstick (def. 2)  

  • 1907  Coup . . . The French-Canadian term adopted to designate the formal token or signal of victory in battle, as used among the Plains tribes.
  • 1956  A warrior's bravery was not measured by the number of scalps he had taken, but by the number of coups he had counted. . . .

• 2a n. count coup. among the Plains Indians: gain prestige for striking an enemy (dead or alive) in battle with a weapon or with a coupstick (def. 2).

  See also: coupstick (def. 2)  

  • 1928  "You two warriors counted plenty coos, " Brady said, eyeing the seven scalps. "Counting coos" was a custom and a term prevalent among all Western tribes, the expression no doubt having been derived from the French word "coup" of the early French voyageurs.
  • 1952  Significantly, it was not necessary to kill to "count coup"; it was even more glorious to ride into danger, humble the enemy by striking him down and taking his horse or an article of his apparel, and escape unscratched, than it was to bring back a scalp.

• 2b n. count coup. among the Plains Indians: recount one's coups, or acts of bravery.

  • 1918  The warriors, gathered in front of the great lodge, were one by one counting their coups, their deeds of bravery. . . .