Cof"fer (?; 115), n. [OF.
cofre, F. coffre, L. cophinus basket, fr.
Gr. ?. Cf. Coffin, n.]
1. A casket, chest, or trunk; especially,
one used for keeping money or other valuables.
Chaucer.
In ivory coffers I have stuffed my
crowns.
Shak.
2. Fig.: Treasure or funds; -- usually in
the plural.
He would discharge it without any burden to the
queen's coffers, for honor sake.
Bacon.
Hold, here is half my coffer.
Shak.
3. (Arch.) A panel deeply recessed
in the ceiling of a vault, dome, or portico; a caisson.
4. (Fort.) A trench dug in the
bottom of a dry moat, and extending across it, to enable the
besieged to defend it by a raking fire.
5. The chamber of a canal lock; also, a
caisson or a cofferdam.
Coffer dam. (Engin.) See
Cofferdam, in the Vocabulary. -- Coffer
fish. (Zoöl.) See
Cowfish.
Cof"fer, v. t. 1.
To put into a coffer. Bacon.
2. (Mining.) To secure from
leaking, as a shaft, by ramming clay behind the masonry or
timbering. Raymond.
3. To form with or in a coffer or
coffers; to furnish with a coffer or coffers.