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coup d'essai

American  
[koo de-se] / ku dɛˈsɛ /

noun

French.

plural

coups d'essai
  1. a first attempt.


Etymology

Origin of coup d'essai

Literally, “trial stroke”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It would be not much more just to take Roderick as Smollett's deliberate presentment of himself than to apply the same construction to Marryat's not very dissimilar, but more unlucky, coup d'essai of Frank Mildmay.

From The English Novel by Saintsbury, George

I do not think my book was a bad coup d'essai.

From What I Remember, Volume 2 by Trollope, Thomas Adolphus

My factotum sat up half the night skinning, but it was his first coup d'essai.

From Two Trips to Gorilla Land and the Cataracts of the Congo Volume 1 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

It is the Hartley coup d'essai in hospitality in the county, and there is a widespread interest manifested as to how they will do it.

From Doctor Cupid by Broughton, Rhoda