coffin

¹

[kaw-fin, kof-in]

noun

1. the box or case in which the body of a dead person is placed for burial; casket.

2. the part of a horse's foot containing the coffin bone.

3. Printing.

   1. the bed of a platen press.

   2. the wooden frame around the bed of an early wooden press.

verb (used with object)

1. to put or enclose in or as in a coffin.

Coffin

²

[kaw-fin, kof-in]

noun

1. Levi, 1798–1877, U.S. abolitionist leader.

2. Robert P(eter) Tristram, 1892–1955, U.S. poet, essayist, and biographer.

coffin

/ ˈkɒfɪn /

noun

1. a box in which a corpse is buried or cremated

2. the part of a horse's foot that contains the coffin bone

verb

1. (tr) to place in or as in a coffin

2. engineering another name for flask

Other Word Forms

• coffinless adjective
• uncoffin verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of coffin¹

1300–50; Middle English cofin < Old North French < Latin cophinus < Greek kóphinos a kind of basket

Word History and Origins

Origin of coffin¹

C14: from Old French cofin, from Latin cophinus basket; see _coffer

Example Sentences

Mr David's coffin was taken into the church draped in a Welsh flag, topped with red roses.

From BBC

At Till's funeral, his mother insisted on an open coffin so everyone could see what had been done to him.

From BBC

"Every settlement, every neighbourhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea."

From BBC

The decision to create a new dedicated section at Danescourt for larger coffins was taken by councillors in May.

From BBC

Women are obsessed with plastic surgery, up to and including procedures that land their subjects in coffins.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crate 
• sarcophagus