couper

Etymology

From Old French coper, colper (“to cut off”), probably, derived from cop (“blow”), colp (modern coup), with its meaning coming from the idea of cutting off with a blow. It may correspond to a Vulgar Latin verb *colpāre, syncopated form of *colaphāre, from Latin colaphus (compare Old Spanish golpar, colpar, Old Portuguese golpar, golbar). Alternatively, possibly from Vulgar Latin *cuppāre (“to behead”), from Latin caput (“head”), although this is unlikely.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ku.pe/

• audio

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Verb

couper

1. to cut, cut up, to chop
2. to cut off, to keep out
3. to dilute (with water)
4. (reflexive, se couper, of leather) to crack

See also

Further reading

• “couper” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• croupe