caisson

noun

cais·​son ˈkā-ˌsän 

-sᵊn,

 British also  kə-ˈsün

1

a

: a chest to hold ammunition

b

: a usually 2-wheeled vehicle for artillery ammunition attachable to a horse-drawn limber

also : a limber with its attached caisson

2

a

: a watertight chamber used in construction work under water or as a foundation

b

: a hollow floating box or a boat used as a floodgate for a dock or basin

3

: coffer sense 3

Illustration of caisson

• caisson 1b

Examples of caisson in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The caisson becomes part of the finished structure. —Ari Perez, The Conversation, 10 June 2024

Using a caisson is another way to provide a dry area at a site that is typically underwater. —Ari Perez, The Conversation, 10 June 2024

To this day, old docks, piers and caissons are all submerged along the shoreline. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024

In the months since, the Army has retired older horses, some as old as 20 that were still part of the group pulling the more than 2,500-pound caissons, which date back to 1918. —Tara Copp, Fortune, 10 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from Old Occitan, from caissa chest, from Latin capsa — more at case

First Known Use

circa 1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing caisson

• caisson disease

Kids Definition

caisson

noun

cais·​son ˈkā-ˌsän 

ˈkā-sᵊn

1

a

: a chest for ammunition

b

: a usually two-wheeled vehicle for artillery ammunition

2

: a watertight chamber used in construction work underwater or as a foundation