coffer

American  

[kaw-fer, kof-er] / ˈkɔ fər, ˈkɒf ər /

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.

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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 British  

/ ˈkɒfə /

noun

1. a chest, esp for storing valuables

2. (usually plural) a store of money

3. Also called: caisson.   lacuna.  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

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verb

1. to store, as in a coffer

2. to decorate (a ceiling, dome, etc) with coffers

Other Word Forms

• cofferlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of coffer

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

Explanation

A coffer is a small safe or lockbox that's meant for keeping precious or valuable items safe. Your grandfather might keep his important papers in a coffer in his study. You can keep your heirlooms, jewels, and savings bonds in a coffer, a safe chest for tucking such things safely away. Coffer takes on a figurative meaning when you talk about the coffers of a large institution: "There's plenty of money in the government coffers — they just don't want to spend it on education!" Yet another meaning of the word is "decorative sunken panel in a ceiling," such as one you'd see in a mosque, museum, or cathedral ceiling.

Example Sentences

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 • Feb. 1, 2024

Back in March, the president held a tele-rally in support of Perdue, lining the candidate's campaign coffer with half a million dollars.

From Salon • May 13, 2022

“It became apparent during lockdown when I was adding songs to my coffer of tunes, that I was writing about something,” she recalled in a late-February phone interview.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 7, 2022

When Sara “Future Opponent” Gideon won the Democratic primary in July 2020, the coffer was up to $4.1 million, most of which went to Gideon’s campaign.

From Washington Post • Nov. 1, 2020

Lot was angry about the journey and wished to forbid it, but she knew how to deal with that The Queen drew herself silently out of bed, and went to her coffer.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• exchequer
• treasury
• war chest