10 most extreme places on Earth. A coup, or coup d’etat, derives from the French verb couper, which means to strike. Etat means the state.. It can be translated to a strike to the state, or a blow to a government. The term may refer to a military victory or overthrow of a government.It is usually a total victory that renders the acting government’s military powerless and thus signifies takeover of the government.When people refer to the coup d’etat, they often call it a military coup.he term may refer to a military victory or overthrow of a government. It is usually a total victory that renders the acting government’s military powerless and thus signifies takeover of the government. When people refer to the coup d’etat, they often call it a military coup.