caisson

[ key-suhn, -son ]

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.
   1. 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.
   2. 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 ).

caisson

/ kəˈsuːn; ˈkeɪsən /

noun

1. a watertight chamber open at the bottom and containing air under pressure, used to carry out construction work under water
2. a similar unpressurized chamber
3. See camel
   a watertight float filled with air, used to raise sunken ships See also camel
4. a watertight structure placed across the entrance of a basin, dry dock, etc, to exclude water from it
5. 1. a box containing explosives, formerly used as a mine
   2. an ammunition chest
   3. a two-wheeled vehicle containing an ammunition chest
6. See coffer
   another name for coffer

Other Words From

• caissoned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of caisson¹

1695–1705; < French, Middle French < Old Provençal, equivalent to caissa box ( case ² ) + -on augmentative suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of caisson¹

C18: from French, assimilated to caisse case ²

Example Sentences

The burial ground was empty except for the occasional horse-drawn caisson being pulled through its quiet lanes.

From The Daily Beast

The largest dock is divisible by a central caisson so that four ships can be docked at one time.

From Project Gutenberg

The first shot did no execution, but the next struck a caisson and exploded its contents.

From Project Gutenberg

Commanders of batteries will see that their limber and caisson-boxes are filled to their utmost capacity.

From Project Gutenberg

The reserve men cut the gear of the dead horse, dragged his body aside, and replaced him with one of the six from the caisson.

From Project Gutenberg

The horses became entangled among the ropes, and stumbled over the gun and caisson, throwing their riders to the earth.

From Project Gutenberg