coup d'état
Variant(s): or coup d'etat /"kü-(")dA-'tä, 'kü-(")dA-", -d&-/
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural coups d'état or coups d'etat /-'tä(z), -"tä(z)/
Etymology: French, literally, stroke of state
: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics; especially
: the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group

from "Commander In Chief"