Etymograph

English

recoup

Recoup comes from French recouper ‘cut short’, and goes back to Old French coper.

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400coper1‘to cut off’
  2. Frenchc. 1600–presentcouper2‘to cut, cut up’
  3. Frenchc. 1600–presentrecouper3‘cut short’
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1856–1870recoup3

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, French couper
  2. 2 Wiktionary, French recouper
  3. 3 Wiktionary, English recoup
  4. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1856–1870, James Anthony Froude, London: Longmans: “Elizabeth had lost her venture; but if she was…”.

Earlier history uncertain. See Wiktionary.

Lineage

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400coperWiktionary, French couper‘to cut off’
  2. Frenchc. 1600–presentcouperWiktionary, French recouper‘to cut, cut up’
  3. Frenchc. 1600–presentrecouperWiktionary, English recoup‘cut short’
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1856–1870recoupWiktionary, English recoup. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1856–1870, James Anthony Froude, London: Longmans: “Elizabeth had lost her venture; but if she was…”

Linked words

through Old French coper ‘to cut off’

cope, 3 more

through French couper ‘to cut, cut up’

coupon, 3 more

Today it means

verb To make back (an investment or similar).

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “recoup”; the older steps come from the Wiktionary entries for French couper, French recouper. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Old French coper / recoup

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