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Counting coup was a battle practice of Native Americans of the Great Plains. A nonviolent demonstration of bravery, it consisted of touching an enemy warrior, with the hand or with a coup stick, then running away unharmed. Risk of injury or death was involved, should the other warrior respond violently. The phrase "counting coup" can also refer to the recounting of stories about battle exploits. It can also involve stealing items from the enemy. The term is of French origin from the verb couper, which means literally to cut, hit or strike. The expression can be seen as referring to "counting strikes". Coups were recorded by notches in the coup stick, or by feathers in the headdress of a warrior who was rewarded with feathers for an act of bravery. Counting coup was referred to in the Star Trek: The Next Generation first season episode, "Code of Honor".
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What is counting coup?
American Indians counted coup in combat. Touching the enemy with your spear or hatchet and that earned you points. Warriors had a coup stick which was decorated with feathers and scalps.
What do the feathers on a coup stick mean?
usually it represents the amount of times a warrior "touched" the enemy in battle.....
How did tha Lakota use coup sticks?
Coup sticks were confined to the Great Plains area where counting coup was considered an act of bravery. A coup could be counted by touching a living, fighting enemy with the hand, with a quirt (horse whip), with a bow or with a coup stick; stealing an enemy war horse was also considered a coup; among some tribes it was also a coup to be first to touch a dead enemy while his friends were trying to retrieve the corpse - in all cases there must be a significant risk involved, and importantly the coup must be witnessed by others who could confirm it.So coup sticks were not necessary for counting a coup, but many warriors did carry them. The Crows and the Blackfoot tribes used them perhaps more than any other tribes; among the Lakota, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Atsina, Sarsi, Assiniboin, Plains Cree and Plains Ojibwe they were carried less frequently by warriors who might use quirts or other objects instead.The Crow chief Plenty Coups recalled taking part in a fight against a war party of Pikuni Blackfoot who were protected by fallen trees; Plenty Coups sneaked up to their barricade, reached over and grabbed a coup stick belonging to one of the enemy, then struck him with it - this counted as a double coup, since he used the Blackfoot's own coup stick.See links below for images:
What is it called when a group of military leaders take over a country?
It's usually called a "coup d'etat", or simply "a coup".
How was Coup d'etat connected to the French Revolution?
Napoleon's coup in 1799.
How did lakota use coup stick?
The Indian touched a living enemy with a coup stick .
What tribe created the coup stick?
The lokota used coup sticks to prove there bravery.
A special weapon used by the Lakota?
A coup stick
What are the release dates for Buckskin - 1958 Coup Stick 1-23?
Buckskin - 1958 Coup Stick 1-23 was released on: USA: 2 February 1959
What do you call a special weapon used by the Lakota to touch an enemy without killing him?
Are you talking about the stick they use to touch enimes before battle? (Counting coup) -- it was a coup stick.
What is counting coup?
American Indians counted coup in combat. Touching the enemy with your spear or hatchet and that earned you points. Warriors had a coup stick which was decorated with feathers and scalps.
Can you see a coup stick please?
not without the coups' baby, not without the coups
How the lakota use a coup stick?
To destroy the Americans with a heavy blow to the head
How did the Lakota use coup stick?
To destroy the Americans with a heavy blow to the head
What do the feathers on a coup stick mean?
usually it represents the amount of times a warrior "touched" the enemy in battle.....
What is a coup stick and is it to hunt buffalo?
No it is not to hunt bufallo, it is a long slender stick that a warrior would wrap around an enemy and pull the enemy off his horse.
How was the coup stick used in battles?
To show a act of bravery. It was to touch the enemy who was full armed and then run away unharmed.
