cofferdam

名词 n.
中文释义
英 /ˈkɒ.fə.dæm/    美 /ˈkɑ.fɚ.dæm/

英文释义

名词 n.
  1. A temporary watertight enclosure used to create a dry foundation for building bridges and other structures over water.
    — The contractor for the cofferdams, &c., was an Englishman, as were the principle workmen, and all the machinery has been supplied from England.
  2. An empty space that acts as a protective barrier between two floors or bulkheads on a ship.
  3. Synonym of dental dam (“barrier to keep the teeth dry during dental work”) (dental sense). obsolete
    — I refer to Dr. Barnum, who has given us the coffer-dam. I cannot detain you while I describe the immense benefit which his application of a very simple material has conferred on the public.

词形变化

cofferdams plural coffer-dam alternative

词汇关系

相关词
caisson disease

词源

From coffer + dam. The dental dam sense was introduced in English by dentist Sanford Christie Barnum at New York City in 1864 (by metaphor), but after his century it was maintained only in languages other than English (for example, German Kofferdam as a loanword from 19th-century English).
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