coffer

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cof·fer

(kô′fər, kŏf′ər)

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.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

coffer

(ˈkɒfə)

1. a chest, esp for storing valuables

2. (usually plural) a store of money

3. (Architecture) Also called: caisson or lacuna an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling, dome, etc

4. (Mechanical Engineering) a watertight box or chamber

5. (Civil Engineering)

a. short for cofferdam

b. a recessed panel in a concrete, metal, or timber soffit

vb (tr)

6. to store, as in a coffer

7. (Architecture) to decorate (a ceiling, dome, etc) with coffers

[C13: from Old French coffre, from Latin cophinus basket, from Greek kophinos]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cof•fer

(ˈkɔ fər, ˈkɒf ər)

n.

1. a box or chest, esp. one for valuables.

2. coffers, a treasury, as of an organization; funds.

3. cofferdam.

4. one of a number of sunken panels, usu. square or octagonal, in a vault, ceiling, or soffit.

v.t.

5. to deposit in or as if in a coffer.

6. to ornament with coffers or sunken panels.

[1250–1300; Middle English cofre < Old French « Latin cophinus basket; see coffin]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	coffer - an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome caisson, lacuna 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

1. 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

1. funds, finances, reserves, assets, treasury, vaults, means, capital The problem is the lack of hard currency in the state's coffers.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

Kasten Kiste Truhe

arca

kasettikassakassa-arkkukassalipas

coffre

scrigno

kasa kutu sandık

coffer

[ˈkɒfəʳ] N

1. (= chest) → cofre m, arca f coffers (fig) → tesoro msing, fondos mpl

2. (Archit) (= sunken panel) → artesón m

3. = cofferdam

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

coffer

[ˈkɒfə^r]

n (old-fashioned) (= chest) → coffre m coffers

npl (= funds) [organization] → caisses fpl

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

coffer

→ Truhe f

(fig) the coffers → die Schatulle, das Geldsäckel; (of state) → das Staatssäckel

(Archit) → Kassette f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

coffer

[ˈkɒfəʳ] n (chest) → forziere m

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References in classic literature ?

In two well-closed coffers, placed beneath the benches of the prow and the poop, Aramis found bread, biscuit, dried fruits, a quarter of bacon, a good provision of water in leathern bottles; the whole forming rations sufficient for people who did not mean to quit the coast, and would be able to revictual, if necessity commanded.

"Do not go too near with the light," said the patron Yves; "for as you desired me, monseigneur, I have placed under the bench of the poop, in the coffer you know of, the barrel of powder, and the musket-charges that you sent me from the fort."

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Open thy Maeonian and thy Mantuan coffers, with whatever else includes thy philosophic, thy poetic, and thy historical treasures, whether with Greek or Roman characters thou hast chosen to inscribe the ponderous chests: give me a while that key to all thy treasures, which to thy Warburton thou hast entrusted.

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The Grogzwig coffers ran low, though the Swillenhausen family had looked upon them as inexhaustible; and just when the baroness was on the point of making a thirteenth addition to the family pedigree, Von Koeldwethout discovered that he had no means of replenishing them.

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Bishop said he was glad to think that this wealth flowed into the coffers of a gentleman who was always disposed to maintain the best interests of Society.

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The plots, in that kingdom, are usually the workmanship of those persons who desire to raise their own characters of profound politicians; to restore new vigour to a crazy administration; to stifle or divert general discontents; to fill their coffers with forfeitures; and raise, or sink the opinion of public credit, as either shall best answer their private advantage.

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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:

Mazarin opened the coffer; a knife, covered with rust, and two letters, one of which was stained with blood, alone met his gaze.

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In an instant a space three feet long by two feet broad was cleared, and Dantes could see an oaken coffer, bound with cut steel; in the middle of the lid he saw engraved on a silver plate, which was still untarnished, the arms of the Spada family -- viz., a sword, pale, on an oval shield, like all the Italian armorial bearings, and surmounted by a cardinal's hat; Dantes easily recognized them, Faria had so often drawn them for him.

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The coffer once in the house, D'Artagnan dismissed his men with a gracious smile, saying, "Messieurs, you have rendered a great service to King Charles II., who in less than six weeks will be king of England.

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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.

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The archdeacon had just seated himself, by the light of a three-jetted copper lamp, before a vast coffer crammed with manuscripts.