Meaning of count coup | Babel Free

Definitions

To win prestige in battle by performing an act of bravery in the face of the enemy (such as touching him and escaping unharmed), a ritual of the Plains Indians of North America.

US, historical, intransitive

Examples

“dǐ ki, v. t., to strike, to whip, to "count coup."”

“Sitting Bull, on horseback, with his brother behind him, counts "coup" on the soldier, and adds a new feather to his war bonnet and variety to the color of his legging fringes.”

“No Sioux may wear an eagle's tail-feather unless he has counted a coup, or stroke, upon an enemy, dead or alive.”

“A small band of Indians had ridden onto this irresistible opportunity and had counted coup with the whites' own unguarded guns.”

“Only a damn fool counts coup on a kill he ain't sure of. That hombre could have us under his gun this very minute.”

“I told him what I had done, how I had counted coup in a Pottawattomie, and he shook hands and said that he too had counted coup and that he was going to wear a head ornament.”

“To count coup a warrior had to strike an armed and fighting enemy with his coup-stick, quirt, or bow before otherwise harming him, or take his weapons while he was yet alive, or strike the first enemy falling in battle, no matter who killed him, […] [I]f a warrior was wounded in counting coup, the feather he wore to mark the event must be painted red to show that he bled.”

“To a Plains Indian warrior "to count coup" meant, literally, "to touch the enemy." To count coup, a warrior might kill an enemy, injure him, struggle with him, or merely touch him.”

“In this sham battle, Crow men pretend to count coup on their old enemies, the Piegan.”

“The belief that a warrior could obtain some of the soul of his enemy, as well as some of his strength, courage, and energy, motivated warriors to count coup whenever the opportunity arose.”

CEFR level