coup stick

American  

[koo] / ku /

noun

1. a stick with which some North American Indian warriors sought to touch their enemies in battle as a sign of courage.

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Etymology

Origin of coup stick

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

The chief stepped forward, removed the war bonnet from his head and placed it and his warrior’s coup stick on the sarcophagus to commemorate the American Indians who served a country that just a couple of decades earlier was at war with them, Mr. O’Donnell wrote in his history.

From Washington Times

Chief Plenty Coups, the leader of Crow Nation who was invited to attend the ceremony, laid a war bonnet and a rod known as a coup stick across the coffin.

From New York Times

The net result had been some loose change which undoubtedly had been dropped by Talpers in robbing the murdered man; an eagle feather, probably dropped from a coup stick which some one of Fire Bear's followers had borrowed from an elder; a flint arrowhead of great antiquity, and a belt buckle and some moccasin beads.

From Project Gutenberg

The old war-bonnets and war-shirts were brought out; the coup stick with its trembling eagle feathers, the ancient bows and arrows.

From Project Gutenberg

I have pledged myself never to lay aside this coup stick so long as the blood runs through my fingers, but I have resolved this day, as I look into the faces of these great chiefs who were once my enemies, that I will never lift the coup stick again, that I will live as a brother to all the tribes, and at peace with all men.

From Project Gutenberg