Obs. or dial. [perh. the same word as COOP sb.1 (formerly coupe, coup). In German, as is pointed out by Hildebrand (in Grimm), kiepe, prop. a basket, is also applied in Saxony to a chest or box, and to a box-cart. We might suppose our word to be short for COUP-CART (now taken in the sense of a cart that can be tilted), but the simple word appears much earlier than the compound.]
1. A cart or wagon with closed sides and ends, thus fitted for carting dung, lime, etc.
1582. in T. West, Antiq. Furness (1774), App. viii. Carriages, called cowps, of the tenants of the sd manor … in which they did take and carry … dung.
1674. Ray, N. C. Words (1691), 17. Coop, a Muck-coop, a Lime-coop; a Cart or Wain made close with Boards, to carry anything that otherwise would fall out.
1703. Thoresby, Lett. to Ray (E. D. S.), Caup, as a muck caup.
1774. T. West, Antiq. Furness (1805), 48. A coup laden with magazeen, drawn by six oxen.
1788. W. Marshall, Rur. Econ. Yorksh., Gloss., Coop, an ox-cart, with a close body, and without ‘shelvings,’ for carrying manure, &c., still in use.
1878. Cumbrld. Gloss., Coop, Cowp, a small fell-side cart.
1888. J. Ramsay, Scotl. & Scotsmen 18th Cent., II. x. 199. Recourse was had to coups—i.e., panniers fixed upon a sledge.
b. Sometimes explained as a cart that can be ‘couped’ or tilted. (Pronounced kaup).
1875. Lanc. Gloss., Coup, a cart that can be couped or tilted. (N. Lancash.)
2. The load of such a cart.
1679. in Archæol. Collect. Ayr & Wigton (1884), IV. 149. For seven score sextine coups of fuilzie.
3. attrib. and Comb., as coup-load; coup-lining, the boards forming the sides of a ‘coup.’ Also COUP-CART.
