cofferdam

See also: coffer-dam

English

Etymology

coffer +‎ dam

Noun

cofferdam (plural cofferdams)

1. A temporary watertight structure that is pumped dry to enclose an area underwater and allow construction work on a ship, bridge, or rig to be carried out; a caisson.
   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chapter 3:

     He stood full six feet in height, with noble shoulders, and a chest like a coffer-dam.

2. (nautical) An empty space that acts as a protective barrier between two floors or bulkheads on a ship.

Translations

temporary watertight structure

• Danish: cellefangedæmning c
• Finnish: arkkupato
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• German: Kofferdamm m
• Italian: tura (it) f, cassone (it) m