copper-bottomed
See also: copperbottomed
English
Etymology
From the copper sheathing applied to the bottom of a wooden ship to prevent damage from marine organisms. In literal sense 18th century, in figurative sense attested since at least 1807.[1]
Pronunciation
Audio (AU): (file)
Adjective
copper-bottomed (comparative more copper-bottomed, superlative most copper-bottomed)
- Having lower parts made of or covered by copper (especially of a ship or cookware).
- 2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 88:
- According to Robert Hulse, 'It's half worm, half mollusc, and there are more dead men at the bottom of the sea as a result of those things [shipworms] than all the naval battles put together. They're the reason you had copper-bottomed ships'.
- (British, idiomatic) Thoroughly reliable; secure
- 1807, Washington Irving, Salmagundi:[1]
- The copper-bottomed angel at Messrs. Paff’s in Broadway.
- 1807, Washington Irving, Salmagundi:[1]
Usage notes
Related term copperfasten used with similar meaning, but different nuance – copper-bottomed means “reliable, trustworthy”, while copper-fastened means “secured, unambiguous”.[1]
Related terms
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Gary Martin (1997–) “Copper-bottomed”, in The Phrase Finder, retrieved 26 February 2017.