contrecoup

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Borrowed from French contrecoup, from contre (Latin contra) + coup a blow.

Noun

[edit]

contrecoup (plural contrecoups)

  1. (pathology) A bruising of the brain caused by a blow, appearing on the opposite side to that on which the blow was struck.
    • 2019, Bill Bryson, The Body: A Guide for Occupants, Black Swan (2020), page 79:
      These injuries, known as contrecoup injuries, appear on the opposite side of the brain from the point of impact because the brain is flung against its own protective (or in this case not-so-protective) casing.

See also

[edit]

French

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From contre- +‎ coup [1]

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /kɔ̃.tʁə.ku/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio (Canada):(file)

Noun

[edit]

contrecoup m (plural contrecoups)

  1. backlash; recoil
    Synonym: répercussion
  2. (figurative) aftermath, aftereffect, repercussion, consequence
    Synonyms: conséquences, répercussion

References

[edit]
  1. ^ contrecoup”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.