treasure-trove

[ trezh-er-trohv ]
See synonyms for treasure-trove on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. anything of the nature of treasure or a treasury that one finds: Mother's attic was a treasure-trove of memorabilia.

  2. Law. any money, bullion, or the like, of unknown ownership, found hidden in the earth or any other place: in the absence of statutory provisions to the contrary it may be kept by the finder.

Origin of treasure-trove

1
1300–50; Middle English <Anglo-French tresor trové found treasure. See treasure, trover

Words Nearby treasure-trove

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use treasure-trove in a sentence

  • I presented my trophy and treasure-trove to the fairy-like Miss Wee-wee.

  • The Chinese have slumbered for five thousand years above a treasure trove of oil, coal and iron.

    The Iron Puddler | James J. Davis
  • It's lucky I knew the laws of treasure trove or I'd 'ave been shoutin' there and then.

  • From your eyes I realize that it is treasure-trove and yet to me it is meaningless.

    Destiny | Charles Neville Buck
  • I'm afraid you will find nothing more than straw or shavings in your treasure-trove, Russ.

British Dictionary definitions for treasure-trove

treasure-trove

noun(in Britain)
  1. law valuable articles, such as coins, bullion, etc, found hidden in the earth or elsewhere and of unknown ownership. Such articles become the property of the Crown, which compensates the finder if the treasure is declared. In 1996 treasure was defined as any item over 300 years old and containing more than 5% precious metal

  2. anything similarly discovered that is of value

Origin of treasure-trove

1
C16: from Anglo-French tresor trové treasure found, from Old French tresor treasure + trover to find

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012