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coffer

noun
/ˈkɒfə/UK/ˈkɔfɚ/US/ˈkɑfɚ/

Etymology

From Middle English cofre, coffre, from Old French cofre, coffre, from Latin cophinus (“basket”), from Ancient Greek κόφινος (kóphinos, “basket”). Doublet of coffin. Cognate with German Koffer (“a suitcase”).

  1. derived from κόφινος
  2. derived from cophinus
  3. derived from cofre
  4. inherited from cofre

Definitions

  1. A strong chest or box used for keeping money or valuables safe.

    • "There is nothing in that," said Guido, "but a genealogy of the Carraras, drawn up by my grandfather. We have kept this little ebony coffer for the sake of its curious carving. The marriage of Cana is beautifully wrought on its lid."

  2. An ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome.

    • Prolapsed and waterstained ceiling, the sagging coffers.

  3. A temporary watertight structure used during underwater construction of bridges,…

    A temporary watertight structure used during underwater construction of bridges, causeways, ships, etc.

  4. ›+ 5 more definitions

    1. A supply or store of money, often belonging to an organization.

      • c. 1610–1620 (written), 1661 (first published), Francis Bacon, Letter of Advice to the Duke of Buckingham He would discharge it without any great burden to the queen's coffers.
      • Hold, there is half my coffer.
      • The coffers were empty, and the first thing to be done was to devise some means by which we could raise a revenue.

    2. A trench dug in the bottom of a dry moat, and extending across it, to enable the besieged…

      A trench dug in the bottom of a dry moat, and extending across it, to enable the besieged to defend it with raking fire.

    3. To put money or valuables in a coffer

    4. To decorate something, especially a ceiling, with coffers.

    5. A surname.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for coffer. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA