coffer

[ kaw-fer, kof-er ]

noun

1. a box or chest, especially 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)

1. to deposit or lay up in or as in a coffer or chest.
2. to ornament with coffers or sunken panels.

coffer

/ ˈkɒfə /

noun

1. a chest, esp for storing valuables
2. usually plural a store of money
3. Also calledcaissonlacuna an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling, dome, etc
4. a watertight box or chamber
5. 1. short for cofferdam
   2. a recessed panel in a concrete, metal, or timber soffit

verb

1. to store, as in a coffer
2. to decorate (a ceiling, dome, etc) with coffers

Other Words From

• coffer·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of coffer¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English cofre, from Old French, ultimately from Latin cophinus “basket”; coffin

Word History and Origins

Origin of coffer¹

C13: from Old French coffre, from Latin cophinus basket, from Greek kophinos

Example Sentences

Biden and his surrogates headlined multiple fundraisers, racking up more cash to add to the campaign’s burgeoning coffer of $155 million, according to the latest finance reports.

From Los Angeles Times

Yiu is the best-funded candidate in the race, with more than $1 million in her coffer — much of which came from her own pocket, according to California secretary of state records.

From Los Angeles Times

They erected a temporary wooden coffer dam in 1907 at the lake’s mouth, raising the water by 10 feet — just enough to make the existing road unusable.

From Seattle Times

Now, money spent on many big concerts lands in one central coffer, allowing the combined Live Nation/Ticketmaster to tighten its grip on the industry more and more.

From Slate

Moore, who had $1.3 million in his coffer in late August and has been consistently raising money the past two months, has spent $104,000 on ad buys in the past 30 days, according to AdImpact, an ad tracking firm.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• exchequer
• treasury
• war chest