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| cais·son [ káy sòn, káyss'n ] (plural cais·sons) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. construction underwater work chamber: a bottomless watertight chamber filled with compressed air, used as a base from which construction work is carried out underwater
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2. nautical float to raise ships: a hollow structure attached to a sunken object such as a wrecked ship, then pumped full of air until it acts as a float, raising the object to the surface
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3. civil engineering nautical water block: a floating watertight structure used to keep water from entering a dry dock, canal lock, or basin
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4. arms ammunition box: a large container for ammunition
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5. military horse-drawn vehicle: a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle, formerly used to carry ammunition but now often used to carry coffins at state or military funerals
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6. architecture
Same as coffer (sense 2)
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| [Late 17th century. Via French< Italian cassone "large box" < cassa "box" < Latin capsa] |
