caisson
[ key-suh n, -son ]
/ ˈkeɪ sən, -sɒn /
noun
Origin of caisson
1695–1705; < French, Middle French < Old Provençal, equivalent to
caissa box (see
case2) +
-on augmentative suffix
OTHER WORDS FROM caisson
cais·soned, adjectiveWords nearby caisson
cairn terrier,
cairngorm,
cairngorm mountains,
cairns,
cairo,
caisson,
caisson disease,
caithness,
caitiff,
caitlin,
caius
Example sentences from the Web for caisson
British Dictionary definitions for caisson
caisson
/ (kəˈsuːn, ˈkeɪsən) /
noun
a watertight chamber open at the bottom and containing air under pressure, used to carry out construction work under water
a similar unpressurized chamber
a watertight float filled with air, used to raise sunken ships
See also camel (def. 2)
a watertight structure placed across the entrance of a basin, dry dock, etc, to exclude water from it
- a box containing explosives, formerly used as a mine
- an ammunition chest
- a two-wheeled vehicle containing an ammunition chest
another name for coffer (def. 3)
Word Origin for caisson
C18: from French, assimilated to
caisse
case ²