coup

To detail one's successes or achievements in battle, as of Native American tribes. Tonight, we will gather to count coup. Now that our tribe has been victorious, we can count coup. Most of the tribe gathered around the campfire to count coup.

An action or event that brings a swift end to suffering or a worsening situation. The phrase is French for "blow of mercy." The samurai delivered a merciful coup de grâce to his mortally wounded enemy. The large class action lawsuit was the coup de grâce that caused the failing company to finally go out of business. A piece of trash like you doesn't deserve a coup de grâce. What you deserve is a long, miserable life of suffering.

A sudden, illegitimate seizure of power from an existing government, usually through violent means. The phrase is French for "blow of state," and it is often shortened to simply "coup." The militia group launched a coordinated coup d'état, seizing the country's capital and killing or capturing all of its top political officials. The dictator has ruled the country mercilessly since his coup d'état in 1987. The coup d'état was followed by a complete societal breakdown.

Among certain Native American peoples, to ceremoniously recount one's exploits in battle.

Finishing stroke. The phrase is French for “blow of mercy,” a death blow administered to end a wounded person’s suffering. It probably originated in dueling or other sword fighting and had been adopted into English by about 1700 and was already being used figuratively for the finishing stroke for any kind of enterprise. For example, “He carefully placed the figures of bride and groom on top of the cake, the coup de grâce for an artistic creation.”