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coffer

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒfə/

The English word “coffer” has 8 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A strong chest or box used for keeping money or valuables safe.
  2. An ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome.
  3. A temporary watertight structure used during underwater construction of bridges, causeways, ships, etc.
  4. A supply or store of money, often belonging to an organization.
  5. A trench dug in the bottom of a dry moat, and extending across it, to enable the besieged to defend it with raking fire.

verb

  1. To put money or valuables in a coffer.
  2. To decorate something, especially a ceiling, with coffers.
  3. To panel, frame, or border with a raised protective trim.

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”).

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.