copperfasten

verb
/ˈkɑpɚˌfæsn̩/US/ˈkɒpəˌfɑːsn̩/UK

Etymology

From copper + fasten. From copper sheathing of ship hulls (to protect from damage by marine organisms. Originally copper sheathing but non-copper bolts were used, leading to corrosion. Later copper bolts (fasteners) were also used, eliminating corrosion issues. Literal sense from 18th century, metaphorical sense attested 1948.

  1. inherited from *fastinōn — “to secure, fasten
  2. inherited from fæstnian
  3. inherited from fastenen
  4. compounded as copperfasten — “copper + fasten

Definitions

  1. To protect the timbers of (a ship) with plates of copper secured with copper nails or…

    To protect the timbers of (a ship) with plates of copper secured with copper nails or bolts.

    • She is copper-fastened and copper-bottomed, and a remarkable fine ship.
  2. To reinforce, strengthen

    To reinforce, strengthen; to make permanent, embed.

    • We had some striking examples of what happens when a guy gets so big for his britches that any pal of his is automatically a copper-fastened genius.
    • This brings to an end a ten-year campaign by Pol O Murchú and other Irish language activists to copperfasten rights to have Irish language legislation made available […]

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for copperfasten. 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