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

He was arrested on 25 October accused of embezzling a huge sum of money from state coffers and depositing it in secret accounts in the Cayman Islands.

From BBC

Opponents of Measure G argued that a new elected position overseeing the county’s executive branch would create unnecessary power struggles and that the proposal could needlessly drain the county’s coffers.

From Los Angeles Times

The rallies also generated revenue for the Nazi party coffers.

From Salon

In March, the BBC revealed that more than £420m from the scheme had flowed into the government’s coffers in the previous three years.

From BBC

So to fund such a sweeping effort, Trump would likely have to either raise taxes on American households or possibly steal the funds from other social services coffers, such as Social Security or Medicare.

From Salon

Related Words

• exchequer
• treasury
• war chest