koppa

American  

[kop-uh] / ˈkɒp ə /

noun

1. a letter (, ) of some early Greek alphabets, occurring between pi and rho and equivalent to Latin Q: later superseded by kappa except for its use as a numeral for 90.

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koppa British  

/ ˈkɒpə /

noun

1. a consonantal letter in the Greek alphabet pronounced like kappa (K) with the point of articulation further back in the throat. It became obsolete in classical (Attic) Greek orthography, but was passed on to the Romans who incorporated it into their alphabet as Q

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Etymology

Origin of koppa

1865–70; < Greek kóppa < Semitic; akin to Hebrew qōph koph

Example Sentences

At this time he learns also from his nurse the word koppa as a name for horse, instead of prr, burra, which, from this time forth, denotes only going in a carriage.

From The Mind of the Child, Part II The Development of the Intellect, International Education Series Edited By William T. Harris, Volume IX. by Preyer, William T.

Of horses he is passionately fond; but he begins to use the word koppa, as the Chinese do their words, in various meanings.

From The Mind of the Child, Part II The Development of the Intellect, International Education Series Edited By William T. Harris, Volume IX. by Preyer, William T.

Episemon, ep-i-sē′mon, n. the characteristic device of a city, &c.: one of three obsolete Greek letters used as numerals—, vau; , koppa; and , san, sampi.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

When, for example, a child expects you to translate his sound "koppa" into "Tommy," or "pots" into "hippopotamus," it will be acknowledged that he is making heavy demands.

From Children's Ways by Sully, James