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. In ivory coffers I have stuffed my crowns. --Shak. 2. Fig.: Treasure or funds; -- usually in the plural. He would discharge it without any burden to the queen's coffers, for honor sake. --Bacon. Hold, here is half my coffer. --Shak. 3. (Arch.) A panel deeply recessed in the ceiling of a vault, dome, or portico; a caisson. 4. (Fort.) A trench dug in the bottom of a dry moat, and extending across it, to enable the besieged to defend it by a raking fire. 5. The chamber of a canal lock; also, a caisson or a cofferdam. Coffer dam. (Engin.) See Cofferdam, in the Vocabulary. Coffer fish. (Zo["o]l.) See Cowfish.
Cof"fer\, v. t. 1. To put into a coffer. --Bacon. 2. (Mining.) To secure from leaking, as a shaft, by ramming clay behind the masonry or timbering. --Raymond. 3. To form with or in a coffer or coffers; to furnish with a coffer or coffers.
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