coup de main

[ koo duh-man ]

/ ku dəˈmɛ̃ /

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noun, plural coups de main

[koo duh-man]. /ku dəˈmɛ̃/. French.

a surprise attack; a sudden development.

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Origin of coup de main

Literally, “blow from the hand”

Words nearby coup de main

county seat, county town, coup, coup de foudre, coup de grâce, coup de main, coup de maître, coup de poing, coup d'essai, coup d'état, coup de théâtre

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use coup de main in a sentence

This was done before Vendome could reach the place, which was thus secured against a coup de main.
The Cornet of Horse|G. A. Henty
Doffen, then, ought to have realised that the moment was not opportune for a coup de main.
Dry Fish and Wet|Anthon Bernhard Elias Nilsen
We took the citadel, after a slight fusillade, and by a coup de main.
Napoleon's Letters to Josephine|Henry Foljambe Hall
Such a place should never be exposed to the coup-de-main of an enemy.
Elements of Military Art and Science|Henry Wager Halleck

I found our vessel thoroughly secured by the imps, who had taken every precaution to guard against a coup-de-main upon our part.
Ti-Ping Tien-Kwoh|Lin-Le

British Dictionary definitions for coup de main

coup de main

/ French (ku də mɛ̃) /

noun plural coups de main (ku də mɛ̃)

mainly military an attack that achieves complete surprise

Word Origin for coup de main

literally: blow with the hand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012