COFFER

Coffer

A coffer in architecture, is a sunken panel in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling, soffit or vault. A series of these sunken panels were used as decoration for a ceiling or a vault, also called caissons, or lacunaria, so that a coffered ceiling can be called a lacunar ceiling: the strength of the structure is in the framework of the coffers. The stone coffers of the ancient Greeks and Romans are the earliest surviving examples, but a seventh-century BC Etruscan chamber tomb in the necropolis of San Giuliano, which is cut in soft tufa-like stone reproduces a ceiling with beams and cross-beams lying on them, with ...

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Coffer
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

coffer

Noun

  1. A strongbox: a strong chest or box used for keeping money or valuables safe.
  2. An ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome; a caisson.
  3. A cofferdam.
  4. A supply or store of money, often belonging to an organization.
  5. A trench dug in the bottom of a dry moat, and extending across it, to enable the besieged to defend it with raking fire.

Verb

  1. To put money or valuables in a coffer
  2. To decorate something, especially a ceiling, with coffers.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: coffer
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

Need help with a clue?
Try your search in the crossword dictionary!