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Caisson vs Cofferdam - What's the difference?

caisson | cofferdam |

In nautical terms the difference between caisson and cofferdam

is that caisson is a floating tank that can be submerged, attached to an underwater object and then pumped out to lift the object by buoyancy; a camel while cofferdam is an empty space that acts as a protective barrier between two floors or bulkheads on a ship.

As nouns the difference between caisson and cofferdam

is that caisson is an enclosure, from which water can be expelled, in order to give access to underwater areas for engineering works etc while cofferdam is a temporary watertight structure that is pumped dry to enclose an area underwater and allow construction work on a ship, bridge, or rig to be carried out; a caisson.

caisson

Noun

(en noun)
  • (engineering) An enclosure, from which water can be expelled, in order to give access to underwater areas for engineering works etc.
  • * 2003 , (Bill Bryson), A Short History of Nearly Everything , BCA, p. 213:
  • Caissons were enclosed dry chambers built on river beds to facilitate the construction of bridge piers.
  • The gate across the entrance to a dry dock.
  • (nautical) A floating tank that can be submerged, attached to an underwater object and then pumped out to lift the object by buoyancy; a camel.
  • (military) A two-wheeled, horse-drawn military vehicle used to carry ammunition (and a coffin at funerals).
  • (military) A large box to hold ammunition.
  • (military) A chest filled with explosive materials, used like a mine.
  • (architecture) A coffer.
  • Derived terms

    * caisson disease

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    cofferdam

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A temporary watertight structure that is pumped dry to enclose an area underwater and allow construction work on a ship, bridge, or rig to be carried out; a caisson.
  • (nautical) An empty space that acts as a protective barrier between two floors or bulkheads on a ship.