Copt

American  

[kopt] / kɒpt /

Or Copht

noun

1. a member of the Coptic Church.

2. a native Egyptian claiming descent from the ancient Egyptians.

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Copt British  

/ kɒpt /

noun

1. a member of the Coptic Church

2. an Egyptian descended from the ancient Egyptians

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Etymology

Origin of Copt

1605–15; < Arabic qubṭ, back formation from qubṭī < Coptic kyptios, variant of gyptios < Greek Aigýptios Egyptian

Example Sentences

Our unfriendly driver was a Copt, and although he hadn’t gone by the name of Girgis Egyptians don’t always use the first name that appears on their I.D.s.

From The New Yorker • Mar. 25, 2019

Francis expressed closeness Sunday to “the Orthodox Copt brothers” of Egypt after the attacks two days earlier in a Cairo suburb.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 31, 2017

Mr Armstrong, of Copt Hill, Danbury, Essex, is go on trial on 11 December.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2017

"The great wisdom of life," the Copt says toward the end of the book, "is that we can be masters of the things that try to enslave us."

From The Guardian • Mar. 17, 2013

He is pure Copt, and the name "Copt" is from "Gypt"—that is, "Egypt"—the Copts being the direct descendants of the race that built ancient Thebes.

From The Ship Dwellers A Story of a Happy Cruise by Paine, Albert Bigelow