caisson

cais·son  (ksn, -sn)

n.

1. A watertight structure within which construction work is carried on under water.

2. See camel.

3. A large box open at the top and one side, designed to fit against the side of a ship and used to repair damaged hulls under water.

4. A floating structure used to close off the entrance to a dock or canal lock.

5.

a. A horse-drawn vehicle, usually two-wheeled, used to carry artillery ammunition and coffins at military funerals.

b. A large box used to hold ammunition.

---

[French, from Old French, large box, alteration (influenced by caisse, chest) of casson, from Italian cassone, augmentative of cassa, box, from Latin capsa.]

---

caisson [kəˈsuːn ˈkeɪs^ən]

n

1. (Engineering / Civil Engineering) a watertight chamber open at the bottom and containing air under pressure, used to carry out construction work under water

2. (Engineering / Civil Engineering) a similar unpressurized chamber

3. (Engineering / General Engineering) a watertight float filled with air, used to raise sunken ships See also camel [2]

4. (Engineering / General Engineering) a watertight structure placed across the entrance of a basin, dry dock, etc., to exclude water from it

5. (Military / Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery)

a.  a box containing explosives, formerly used as a mine

b.  an ammunition chest

c.  a two-wheeled vehicle containing an ammunition chest

6. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Architecture) another name for coffer [3]

[from French, assimilated to caisse case²]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	caisson - an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome coffer, lacuna panel - sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something
	2.	caisson - a two-wheeled military vehicle carrying artillery ammunition military vehicle - vehicle used by the armed forces armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"
	3.	caisson - a chest to hold ammunition ammunition chest chest - box with a lid; used for storage; usually large and sturdy
	4.	caisson - large watertight chamber used for construction under water cofferdam, pneumatic caisson chamber - a natural or artificial enclosed space

Translations

caisson [ˈkeɪsən] N (Mech) → cajón m hidráulico (Naut) → cajón m de suspensión; [of dry-dock] → puerta f de dique (Mil) → cajón m de municiones

caisson

n

(Mil) → Munitionskiste f; (= wagon) → Munitionswagen m

(Tech: = underwater caisson) → Senkkasten m, → Caisson m