caisson
nounUK /ˈkeɪ.sən/ · US /ˈkeɪ.sɑn/
Etymology Borrowed from French caisson. Doublet of cassone and cajón.
8 senses
- 1A (permanent) enclosure from which water can be…
- 2A structure with similar function that is temporary.
- 3A coffer (sunken panel).
- 4The gate across the entrance to a drydock.
- 5A floating tank that can be submerged, attached to an…
- 6A two-wheeled, horse-drawn military vehicle used to…
- 7A large box to hold ammunition.
- 8A chest filled with explosive materials, used like a mine.
Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A (permanent) enclosure from which water can be expelled, in order to give access to underwater areas for engineering works etc.
- During the construction of the viaduct, the sinking of the caissons in the river bed caused much difficulty to the engineer and contractors, as a bed of running sand was encountered; in consequence, the expenditure for these foundations proved almost prohibitive.1946 January and February, “Notes and News: Demolition of Rhydyfelin Viaduct”, in Railway Magazine, page 53:
- Caissons were enclosed dry chambers built on river beds to facilitate the construction of bridge piers.2003, Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything, BCA, page 213:
Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A structure with similar function that is temporary.
Architecture A coffer (sunken panel).
The gate across the entrance to a drydock.
Nautical, Transport A floating tank that can be submerged, attached to an underwater object and then pumped out to lift the object by buoyancy.
- Near-synonym: pontoon
Government, Military, Politics, War A two-wheeled, horse-drawn military vehicle used to carry ammunition (and a coffin at funerals).
- Near-synonym: limber
- Over hill, over dale / As we hit the dusty trail, / And those caissons go rolling along.1908, Edmund Louis Gruber, “The Caissons Go Rolling Along”:
Government, Military, Politics, War A large box to hold ammunition.
Government, Military, Politics, War A chest filled with explosive materials, used like a mine.
- Derived terms
- caisson disease