In 7–8 Coptie, Copht(e, -tie. [Cf. F. copte, mod.L. Coptus, Cophtus ad. Arab. quft, qift collective, ‘the Copts,’ with relative adj. quftī, qiftī. Coptic, also qubt, qibt with relative adj. qubtī, qibtī, most prob. ad. Coptic ⲅⲩⲡⲧⲓⲟⲥ gyptios, ⲕⲩⲡⲧⲁⲓⲟⲥ kyptaios, repr. Gr. Ἀιγύπτιος Egyptian. The Arabic u is in some places pronounced o, and Arabic having no p is obliged to substitute f or b: to the former is owing the early Cophtus.
Some have referred the name to Coptos, an ancient city of Upper Egypt, and it is possible that this notion has tended to make Copt the settled form.]
A native Egyptian Christian belonging to the Jacobite sect of Monophysites.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 109. Of Christians, the natiue Copties are the most in number.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. ii. (1636), 72. They are termed Cophtes: these are the true Egyptians.
1723. R. Millar, Propagat. Chr., II. viii. 368. Turks and Arabians, Christian Greeks and Cophtes.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. iii. 25. Copties, who are circumcised Christians.
1849. Lane, Mod. Egypt., II. 311. The Copts, at present, compose less than one fourteenth part of the population of Egypt.
b. attrib. or adj.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. (1646), 99. The Copt Language.
1849. Lane, Mod. Egypt., II. 314. The Copt women veil their faces … when any men, excepting their near relations, are present.
