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caisson

 - 4 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.
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