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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 provide (a ceiling, for example) with decorative sunken panels.

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

(click for a larger image)

coffer

interior view of the coffered

concrete dome of the

c. 118-126ADPantheon

Rome, Italy

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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