Plural of coping; the top layer of a wall or fence that provides protection, or instances of dealing with difficult emotions or situations.
From 'cope' (from Old French 'couper' meaning to cut or cut off) plus '-ing' suffix; the architectural sense refers to the cap or covering at the top.
In masonry, copings are angled to shed water away, a simple engineering solution that keeps walls from deteriorating—nature has taught us that angles matter for survival, whether in stone or in psychology.
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