coup de grâce

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Translations 2 French 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Noun

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

Late 17th century, from French coup de grâce (“‘stroke of grace’”). Originally referring to a merciful stroke putting a fatally wounded person out of misery or to the shot delivered to the head of a prisoner after facing a firing squad.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ku də grɑs/
• IPA: /ku də grɑː/ (hyperforeign)—Some English speakers, aware that some final consonants are dropped in French, overcompensate by dropping the final /s/ sound in grâce, making this sound like French coup de gras (“stroke of grease”).

[edit] Noun

coup de grâce (plural coups de grâce)

1. A final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal.

[edit] Translations

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[edit] French

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ku də ɡʁaːs/
•  Audio (FR)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

coup de grâce m. (plural coups de grâce)

1. Stroke of grace (or mercy).