Cofferdam

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cofferdam \Cof"fer*dam\, n.
     A water-tight inclosure, as of piles packed with clay, from
     which the water is pumped to expose the bottom (of a river,
     etc.) and permit the laying of foundations, building of
     piers, etc.
     [1913 Webster]



From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  cofferdam
       n : large watertight chamber used for construction under water
           [syn: {caisson}, {pneumatic caisson}]