what is a coup?

Answer 1

Coup - A sudden and decisive change of government illegally or by force.
A brilliantly executed stratagem; a triumph.

Answer 2

"A coup d’État (pronounced /ku de'ta/), or simply coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government through unconstitutional means by a part of the state establishment — mostly replacing just the high-level figures. It is also an example of political engineering. It may or may not be violent in nature. It is different from a revolution, which is staged by a larger group and radically changes the political system. The term is French for "a (sudden) blow (or strike) to a state" (literally, coup, hit, and État, state, always written with a capital É in this meaning). The term coup can also be used in a casual sense to mean a gain in advantage of one nation or entity over another; e.g. an intelligence coup. By analogy, the term is also applied to corporations, etc; e.g. a boardroom coup."

Answer 3

It's either the sound a pidgoen makes, or a military backed revolution, where the military remove through force a sitting government, or just the prime-minister or president. Sometimes this is a violent and bloody experience, sometimes very bloodless and peacefull like in Thailand recently.

Speaking of Thailand's peaceful, bloodless coup. wouldn't it be nice if such a thing could take place in the USA and the UK today? and then have the system re-democratized to put the people in charge for a change, instead of the crazy fascists that are ruling now?

Answer 4

According to the folks at Merriam-Webster it means to overthrow or upset which is not to be confused with coupe which is a 2 passenger vehicle or a coop which could be called a vehicle for chickens if it had wheels but usually means a small cage although there are some wives would probably refer to a coupe as coop causing a coup to get a vehicle more suitable for children.

(Deep breathe...)

Got that?

Answer 5

A coup d’État (pronounced /ku de'ta/), or simply coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government through unconstitutional means by a part of the state establishment — mostly replacing just the high-level figures

Answer 6

Overthrow or removal of the established government by illegitimate means suchas, usually, by armed force. A Coup is usually organised by an individual or performed by a small group, which distinguishes it from a revolution: A Revolution is a similar overthrow of Govt but with widespread mass participation and support.

Answer 7

The word "coup" means [body] blow in French. On its own it is usually short for coup d'état, meaning the sudden overthrow of a government by a usually small group of persons who are in, or were previously in, positions of authority.

Answer 8

It can have a few meanings. It can be short for coup d'etat, which is a sudden, violent seizure of government. Or a coup on it's own can be a successful stroke, move or gamble.

Answer 9

Noun
coup (plural coups)

A quick, brilliant, and highly successful act; a triumph.
A coup d'état.
By extension, a takeover of one group by another.

Answer 10

Where a revolution/rebelion is backed by the army...

thats a coup