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caisson

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caisson


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Caisson  \Cais"son\,  n.  [F.,  fr  caisse,  case,  chest.  See  1st 
  {Case}.] 
  1.  (Mil.) 
  a  A  chest  to  hold  ammunition. 
  b  A  four-wheeled  carriage  for  conveying  ammunition, 
  consisting  of  two  parts  a  body  and  a  limber.  In  light 
  field  batteries  there  is  one  caisson  to  each  piece, 
  having  two  ammunition  boxes  on  the  body,  and  one  on 
  the  limber.  --Farrow. 
  c  A  chest  filled  with  explosive  materials,  to  be  laid  in 
  the  way  of  an  enemy  and  exploded  on  his  approach. 
 
  2. 
  a  A  water-tight  box,  of  timber  or  iron  within  which  work 
  is  carried  on  in  building  foundations  or  structures 
  below  the  water  level. 
  b  A  hollow  floating  box,  usually  of  iron,  which  serves 
  to  close  the  entrances  of  docks  and  basins. 
  c  A  structure,  usually  with  an  air  chamber,  placed 
  beneath  a  vessel  to  lift  or  float  it 
 
  3.  (Arch.)  A  sunk  panel  of  ceilings  or  soffits. 
 
  {Pneumatic  caisson}  (Engin.),  a  caisson,  closed  at  the  top 
  but  open  at  the  bottom,  and  resting  upon  the  ground  under 
  water.  The  pressure  of  air  forced  into  the  caisson  keeps 
  the  water  out  Men  and  materials  are  admitted  to  the 
  interior  through  an  air  lock.  See  {Lock}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  caisson 
  n  1:  an  ornamental  sunken  panel  in  a  ceiling  or  dome  [syn:  {coffer}, 
  {lacuna}] 
  2:  a  two-wheeled  vehicle  carrying  artillery  ammunition 
  3:  a  chest  to  hold  ammunition  [syn:  {ammunition  chest}] 
  4:  large  watertight  chamber  used  for  construction  under  water 
  [syn:  {pneumatic  caisson},  {cofferdam}] 




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