Part 607

Cou"ple (k?p"'l), n. [F. couple, fr. L. copula a bond, band; co- + apere, aptum, to join. See Art, a., and cf. Copula.] 1. That which joins or links two things together; a bond or tie; a coupler. [Obs.]

It is in some sort with friends as it is with dogs in couples; they should be of the same size and humor. L'Estrange.

I'll go in couples with her. Shak.

2. Two of the same kind connected or considered together; a pair; a brace. "A couple of shepherds." Sir P. Sidney. "A couple of drops" Addison. "A couple of miles." Dickens. "A couple of weeks." Carlyle.

Adding one to one we have the complex idea of a couple. Locke.

met him with a couple of asses saddled. 2 Sam. xvi. 1.

3. A male and female associated together; esp., a man and woman who are married or betrothed.

Such were our couple, man and wife. Lloyd.

Fair couple linked in happy, nuptial league. Milton.

4. (Arch.) See Couple- close.

5. (Elec.) One of the pairs of plates of two metals which compose a voltaic battery; -- called a voltaic couple or galvanic couple.

6. (Mech.) Two rotations, movements, etc., which are equal in amount but opposite in direction, and acting along parallel lines or around parallel axes.

&fist; The effect of a couple of forces is to produce a rotation. A couple of rotations is equivalent to a motion of translation.

Cou"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coupled (k?p"'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Coupling (-l?ng).] [F. coupler, fr. L. copulare. See Couple, n., and cf. Copulate, Cobble, v.]

1. To link or tie, as one thing to another; to connect or fasten together; to join.

Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds, . . . And couple Clowder with the deep-mouthed brach. Shak.

2. To join in wedlock; to marry. [Colloq.]

A parson who couples all our beggars. Swift.

Cou"ple, v. i. To come together as male and female; to copulate. [Obs.] Milton. Bacon.

Cou"ple-beg`gar (-b?g`g?r), n. One who makes it his business to marry beggars to each other. Swift.

Cou"ple-close` (k?p"?-kl?s`), n.; pl. Couple-closes (-kl&?;"s&?;z). 1. (Her.) A diminutive of the chevron, containing one fourth of its surface. Couple-closes are generally borne one on each side of a chevron, and the blazoning may then be either a chevron between two couple-closes or chevron cottised.

2. (Arch.) A pair of rafters framed together with a tie fixed at their feet, or with a collar beam. [Engl.]

Cou"ple*ment (k?p"'l-ment), n. [Cf. OF. couplement.] Union; combination; a coupling; a pair. [Obs.] Shak.

And forth together rode, a goodly couplement. Spenser.

Coup"ler (k?p"l?r), n. One who couples; that which couples, as a link, ring, or shackle, to connect cars.

Coupler of an organ, a contrivance by which any two or more of the ranks of keys, or keys and pedals, are connected so as to act together when the organ is played.

Coup"let (-l?t), n. [F. couplet, dim. of couple. See Couple, n. ] Two taken together; a pair or couple; especially two lines of verse that rhyme with each other.

A sudden couplet rushes on your mind. Crabbe.