Adjacent Words

caisson definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome [syn: coffer, caisson, lacuna]
2: a two-wheeled military vehicle carrying artillery ammunition
3: a chest to hold ammunition [syn: caisson, ammunition chest]
4: large watertight chamber used for construction under water [syn: caisson, pneumatic caisson, cofferdam]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: French, from Middle French, from Old Occitan, from caissa chest, from Latin capsa — more at case Date: circa 1702 1. a. a chest to hold ammunition b. a usually 2-wheeled vehicle for artillery ammunition attachable to a horse-drawn limber; also a limber with its attached caisson 2. a. a watertight chamber used in construction work under water or as a foundation b. a hollow floating box or a boat used as a floodgate for a dock or basin 3. coffer 3

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a watertight chamber in which underwater construction work can be done. 2 a floating vessel used as a floodgate in docks. 3 an ammunition chest or wagon. Phrases and idioms: caisson disease = decompression sickness. Etymology: F (f. It. cassone) assim. to caisse CASE(2)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Caisson Cais"son, n. [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 approach. 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.) 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.