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CAISSON

 - 6 dictionary results
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cais⋅son

  [key-suhn, -son]
Use CAISSON in a Sentence
–noun
1. a structure used in underwater work, consisting of an airtight chamber, open at the bottom and containing air under sufficient pressure to exclude the water.
2. a boatlike structure used as a gate for a dock or the like.
3. Nautical.
a. Also called camel, pontoon. a float for raising a sunken vessel, sunk beside the vessel, made fast to it, and then pumped out to make it buoyant.
b. a watertight structure built against a damaged area of a hull to render the hull watertight; cofferdam.
4. a two-wheeled wagon, used for carrying artillery ammunition.
5. an ammunition chest.
6. a wooden chest containing bombs or explosives, used formerly as a mine.
7. Architecture. coffer (def. 4).
Origin:
1695–1705; < F, MF < OPr, equiv. to caissa box (see case 2 ) + -on aug. suffix

Related forms:
caissoned, adjective
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cof⋅fer

  [kaw-fer, kof-er]
–noun
1. a box or chest, esp. one for valuables.
2. coffers, a treasury; funds: The coffers of the organization were rapidly filled by the contributions.
3. any of various boxlike enclosures, as a cofferdam.
4. Also called caisson, lacunar. Architecture. one of a number of sunken panels, usually square or octagonal, in a vault, ceiling, or soffit.
–verb (used with object)
5. to deposit or lay up in or as in a coffer or chest.
6. to ornament with coffers or sunken panels.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME cofre < OF ≪ L cophinus basket; see coffin

Related forms:
cof⋅fer⋅like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To CAISSON
cais·son   (kā'sŏn', -sən)   
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.

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

    2. 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.]
cam·el   (kām'əl)   
n.  

  1. A humped, long-necked ruminant mammal of the genus Camelus, domesticated in Old World desert regions as a beast of burden and as a source of wool, milk, and meat.

  2. A device used to raise sunken objects, consisting of a hollow structure that is submerged, attached tightly to the object, and pumped free of water. Also called caisson.

  3. Sports A spin in figure skating that is performed in an arabesque or modified arabesque position.


[Middle English, from Old English and from Anglo-Norman cameil, both from Latin camēlus, from Greek kamēlos, of Semitic origin; see gml1 in Semitic roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

caisson 
1704, from Fr. caisson, from M.Fr. caisson "large box," from It. cassone, augmentive form of cassa "a chest," from L. capsa "a box."

coffer 
c.1250, from O.Fr. cofre "a chest," from L. cophinus "basket" (see coffin).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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