Definition of coffer
1 : chest Among the items at the auction was an 18th-century oak coffer.; especially : strongbox put the money in the coffer
2 : treasury, funds —usually used in plural … public coffers running dry in a bleak economy … — Vivienne Walt and Roya Wolverson corporate coffers
3 : a recessed panel in a vault, ceiling, or soffit ceiling coffers
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Examples of coffer in a Sentence
kept the jewels in a locked coffer
let me see what's in the household coffers and I'll get back to you about making a donation
Recent Examples of coffer from the Web
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Thus goes the latest parsing of numbers in the dizzying debate over the plan that shifts property-tax dollars from local to state coffers and increases taxes in some districts while lowering them in others.
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Indeed, the state’s income-tax revenue (the yellow bars in the graph below) tracks capital gains (the red line) so closely that Connecticut’s tax coffers are essentially a barometer of the health of financial markets.
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Her 1930 debut in Morocco bolstered Paramount’s coffers and made Dietrich, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, a major star.
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Further, Amazon reportedly has to transfer any cash in the sellers's accounts straight into Chanel’s coffers.
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Even if the San Diego prototypes are erected over the summer, this does not necessarily mean that miles more of wall will follow, especially if department coffers have already been scraped thin.
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County commissioners approve the move, believing all funds will ultimately go to county coffers.
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Such a competition, MGM said, would produce the best deal for Connecticut and bring the most funds to state coffers, especially as Connecticut deals with a budget crisis.
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Democrats are left with the bitter hope of another tighter-than-usual margin, still searching for a contest where anti-Trump energy and flush campaign coffers actually add up to victory.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coffer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of coffer
Middle English cofre, coffre, borrowed from Anglo-French, altered (with n to r) from Latin cophinus “large basket, hamper” (sense “chest” attested in early Medieval Latin), borrowed from Greek kóphinos “large basket” — more at 1coffin
Other Economics Terms
coffer
Definition of coffer
transitive verb
1 : to store or hoard up in a coffer coffered his military memorabilia
2 : to form (something, such as a ceiling) with recessed panels A ceiling that is coffered will bring an added dimension to a large room.
Recent Examples of coffer from the Web
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Grandest of the getaways is the 32-foot library these owners added, which is richly paneled and coffered with cherry.
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The estate has three living spaces, a billiard room with oak paneling and highly detailed oak coffered ceilings, four bedrooms with pine floors, lavish bathrooms and large storage spaces.
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A coffered ceiling featuring black insets with small twinkling lights offers the feel of watching a movie under the stars.
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That one featured coveted prewar details, including a gracious foyer, coffered ceilings, generous moldings, a fireplace, and a separate kitchen.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coffer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of coffer
Middle English cofren, derivative of cofre 1coffer
COFFER Defined for English Language Learners
coffer
playDefinition of coffer for English Language Learners
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: a box for holding money or other valuable things
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coffers : money that is available for spending
COFFER Defined for Kids
coffer
playDefinition of coffer for Students
: a box used especially for holding money and valuables
Learn More about coffer
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See words that rhyme with coffer Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for coffer Spanish Central: Translation of coffer Nglish: Translation of coffer for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of coffer for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coffer
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