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coffer

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
cof·fer  (kôfr, kfr)
n.
1. A strongbox.
2. often coffers
a. Financial resources; funds.
b. A treasury: stole money from the union coffers.
3. Architecture A decorative sunken panel in a ceiling, dome, soffit, or vault.
4. The chamber formed by a canal lock.
5. A cofferdam.
6. A floating dock.
tr.v. cof·fered, cof·fer·ing, cof·fers
1. To put in a coffer.
2. Architecture To supply (a ceiling, for example) with decorative sunken panels.

[Middle English cofre, from Old French, alteration of *cofne, from Latin cophinus, basket; see coffin.]

coffer [ˈkɒfə]
n
1. a chest, esp for storing valuables
2. (usually plural) a store of money
3. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Architecture) Also called caisson lacuna an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling, dome, etc.
4. (Engineering / Mechanical Engineering) a watertight box or chamber
5. (Engineering / Civil Engineering)
a.  short for cofferdam
b.  a recessed panel in a concrete, metal, or timber soffit
vb (tr)
1. to store, as in a coffer
2. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Architecture) to decorate (a ceiling, dome, etc.) with coffers
[from Old French coffre, from Latin cophinus basket, from Greek kophinos]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.coffercoffer - an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome
panel - sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something
2.coffer - a chest especially for storing valuables
chest - box with a lid; used for storage; usually large and sturdy

coffer
noun
chest, case, repository, casket, treasure chest, strongbox, kist (Scot. & Northern English dialect), treasury, ark (dialect) Crossing to her clothes coffer, she jerked the lid up.
plural noun
funds, finances, reserves, assets, treasury, vaults, means, capital The problem is the lack of hard currency in the state's coffers.
Translations
coffer [ˈkɒfəʳ] N
1. (= chest) → cofre m, arca f coffers (fig) → tesoro msing, fondos mpl
2. (Archit) (= sunken panel) → artesón m
coffer [ˈkɒfər]
n (old-fashioned) (= chest) → coffre m coffers
npl (= funds) [organization] → caisses fpl
coffer
n
Truhe f
(fig) the coffersdie Schatulle, das Geldsäckel; (of state)das Staatssäckel
(Archit) → Kassette f
coffer [ˈkɒfəʳ] n (chest) → forziere m
coffer [ˈkɒfəʳ] n (chest) → forziere m


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
The queen looked around her for some sacred object by which she could swear, and taking out of a cupboard hidden in the tapestry, a small coffer of rosewood set in silver, and laying it on the altar:
Athos always carried the key of this coffer about him; but he one day opened it before Porthos, and Porthos was convinced that this coffer contained nothing but letters and papers--love letters and family papers, no doubt.
When he was able to rejoin her, she was examining a curious little coffer which stood upon an ivory table.
 
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