Word Meanings - COFFERDAM - Book Publishers vocabulary database

A water-tight inclosure, as of piles packed with clay, from which the water is pumped to expose the bottom and permit the laying of foundations, building of piers, etc.

Related words: (words related to COFFERDAM)

• WATER-BEARER
  The constellation Aquarius.
• PACKHOUSE
  Warehouse for storing goods.
• WATERWORT
  Any plant of the natural order Elatineæ, consisting of two genera , mostly small annual herbs growing in the edges of ponds. Some have a peppery or acrid taste.
• WATER SHREW
  Any one of several species of shrews having fringed feet and capable of swimming actively. The two common European species are the best known. The most common American water shrew, or marsh shrew , is rarely seen, owing to its nocturnal habits.
• WATER-TIGHT
  So tight as to retain, or not to admit, water; not leaky.
• WATER RAT
  The water vole. See under Vole. The muskrat. The beaver rat. See under Beaver. 2. A thief on the water; a pirate.
• PERMIT
  1. To consent to; to allow or suffer to be done; to tolerate; to put up with. What things God doth neither command nor forbid . . . he permitteth with approbation either to be done or left undone. Hooker. 2. To grant express license or liberty
• WATER CRAKE
  The dipper. The spotted crake . See Illust. of Crake. The swamp hen, or crake, of Australia.
• LAYLAND
  Land lying untilled; fallow ground. Blount.
• WATER DOG
  A dog accustomed to the water, or trained to retrieve waterfowl. Retrievers, waters spaniels, and Newfoundland dogs are so trained.
• BOTTOMRY
  A contract in the nature of a mortgage, by which the owner of a ship, or the master as his agent, hypothecates and binds the ship as security for the repayment of money advanced or lent for the use of the ship, if she terminates her voyage
• TIGHTENER
  That which tightens; specifically , a tightening pulley.
• WATER SAIL
  A small sail sometimes set under a studding sail or under a driver boom, and reaching nearly to the water.
• PACKMAN
  One who bears a pack; a peddler.
• WATER CLOCK
  An instrument or machine serving to measure time by the fall, or flow, of a certain quantity of water; a clepsydra.
• EXPOSER
  One who exposes or discloses.
• WATERIE
  The pied wagtail; -- so called because it frequents ponds.
• PACK
  To envelop in a wet or dry sheet, within numerous coverings. See Pack, n., 5. (more info) 1. To make a pack of; to arrange closely and securely in a pack; hence, to place and arrange compactly as in a pack; to press into close order or
• WATER BALLAST
  Water confined in specially constructed compartments in a vessel's hold, to serve as ballast.
• WATER RAM
  An hydraulic ram.
• PLAY
  quick motion, and probably to OS. plegan to promise, pledge, D. plegen to care for, attend to, be wont, G. pflegen; of unknown 1. To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot. As Cannace was
• SULPHUR-BOTTOM
  A very large whalebone whale of the genus Sibbaldius, having a yellowish belly; especially, S. sulfureus of the North Pacific, and S. borealis of the North Atlantic; -- called also sulphur whale.
• WINDTIGHT
  So tight as to prevent the passing through of wind. Bp. Hall.
• WAYLAYER
  One who waylays another.
• PLAYGROUND
  A piece of ground used for recreation; as, the playground of a school.
• PLAYWRITER
  A writer of plays; a dramatist; a playwright. Lecky.