Coffer — Cof fer (?; 115), n. [OF. cofre, F. coffre, L. cophinus basket, fr. Gr. ?. Cf. {Coffin}, n.] 1. A casket, chest, or trunk; especially, one used for keeping money or other valuables. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] In ivory coffers I have stuffed my… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Coffer — Cof fer, v. t. 1. To put into a coffer. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. (Mining.) To secure from leaking, as a shaft, by ramming clay behind the masonry or timbering. Raymond. [1913 Webster] 3. To form with or in a coffer or coffers; to furnish with a… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
coffer — [kôf′ər, käf′ər] n. [ME < OFr cofre, a chest < L cophinus: see COFFIN] 1. a chest or strongbox for keeping money or valuables 2. [pl.] a treasury; funds 3. a decorative sunken panel as in a vault, dome, etc. 4. a cofferdam 5. a lock in a… … English World dictionary
coffer — I noun area, bank, cista, container, depository, holder, locker, money chest, receptacle, safe, safe deposit box, storage, strongbox, till, treasury, vault II index bank, depository, repository … Law dictionary
coffer — UK US /ˈkɒfər/ noun ► [C] a large strong box in which money or valuable objects are kept ● coffers Cf. coffers … Financial and business terms
coffer — mid 13c., from O.Fr. cofre a chest (12c., Mod.Fr. coffre), from L. cophinus basket (see COFFIN (Cf. coffin)) … Etymology dictionary
coffer — [n] large box case, casket, chest, exchequer, repository, strongbox, treasure chest, treasury, war chest*; concept 494 … New thesaurus
coffer — ► NOUN 1) a small chest for holding valuables. 2) (coffers) the funds or financial reserves of an institution. 3) a decorative sunken panel in a ceiling. ORIGIN Old French coffre chest , from Greek kophinos basket … English terms dictionary
Coffer — For other uses, see Coffer (disambiguation). Coffering on the ceiling of the Pantheon, Rome A coffer (or coffering) in architecture, is a sunken panel in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling, soffit or vault … Wikipedia
coffer — UK [ˈkɒfə(r)] / US [ˈkɑfər] noun Word forms coffer : singular coffer plural coffers 1) coffers [plural] the supply of money that an organization has available to spend 2) [countable] a large strong box used for keeping valuable things in,… … English dictionary
coffer — I. noun Etymology: Middle English coffre, from Anglo French, ultimately from Latin cophinus basket, from Greek kophinos Date: 13th century 1. chest; especially strongbox 2. treasury, funds usually used in plural 3. a recessed panel in a vault,… … New Collegiate Dictionary