CAISSON

caisson, pneumatic caisson, cofferdam

(noun) large watertight chamber used for construction under water

caisson, ammunition chest

(noun) a chest to hold ammunition

caisson

(noun) a two-wheeled military vehicle carrying artillery ammunition

coffer, caisson, lacunar

(noun) an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

caisson (plural caissons)

(engineering) An enclosure from which water can be expelled, in order to give access to underwater areas for engineering works etc.

The gate across the entrance to a dry dock.

(nautical) A floating tank that can be submerged, attached to an underwater object and then pumped out to lift the object by buoyancy; a camel.

(military) A two-wheeled, horse-drawn military vehicle used to carry ammunition (and a coffin at funerals).

(military) A large box to hold ammunition.

(military) A chest filled with explosive materials, used like a mine.

(architecture) A coffer.

Anagrams

• Caisons, assicon, casinos, cassino, cassoni

Source: Wiktionary


Cais"son, n. Etym: [F., fr. caisse, case, chest. See 1st Case.]

1. (Mil.) (a) A chest to hold ammunition. (b) A four-wheeled carriage for conveying ammunition, consisting of two parts, a body and a limber. In light field batteries there is one caisson to each piece, having two ammunition boxes on the body, and one on the limber. Farrow. (c) A chest filled with explosive materials, to be laid in the way of an enemy and exploded on his appoach.

2. (a) A water-tight box, of timber or iron within which work is carried on in building foundations or structures below the water level. (b) A hollow floating box, usually of iron, which serves to close the entrances of docks and basins. (c) A structure, usually with an air chamber, placed beneath a vessel to lift or float it.

3. (Arch.)

Definition: A sunk panel of ceilings or soffits. Pneumatic caisson (Engin.), a caisson, closed at the top but open at the bottom, and resting upon the ground under water. The pressure of air forced into the caisson keeps the water out. Men and materials are admitted to the interior through an air lock. See Lock.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

25 November 2024

ONCHOCERCIASIS

(noun) infestation with slender threadlike roundworms (filaria) deposited under the skin by the bite of black fleas; when the eyes are involved it can result in blindness; common in Africa and tropical America


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the largest iced coffee is 14,228.1 liters and was created by Caffé Bene (South Korea), in Yangju, South Korea, on 17 July 2014. They poured iced black Americano on the giant cup that measured 3.3 meters tall and 2.62 meters wide.

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