ENGLISH
REFERENCE

coping

n.
US //ˈkoʊpɪŋ// UK //kˈəʊpɪŋ// cop·ing
  1. 1 wall covering (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Architecture

    the top layer of a wall, often made of stone or brick, designed to keep water off.

    the finishing or protective cap or top course of a wall, usually sloped to shed water.

    Example

    The rain ran off the stone coping and away from the garden wall.

    Example

    The architect specified a granite coping for the parapet to ensure that moisture would not seep into the brickwork during the winter months.
Origin

From cope + -ing. The sense referring to a brick wall is cope (sense 2), used in the sense "dress in a cope," "to cover."

© 2026 English Reference