Where does “cofferdam” come from?
cofferdam (English) comes from English dam, from English damn, from Middle English dampnen, from Old French dampner, from Latin damnō, from Latin damnum, from Proto-Italic dapnom, from Proto-Indo-European dh₂pnóm — to share, divide.
cofferdam (English): A temporary watertight structure that is pumped...
Definitions
- A temporary watertight structure that is pumped...
Ancestry of “cofferdam”, step by step
cofferdam traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English dam
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | dam | A structure placed across a flowing body of water... |
| 2 | English | damn | To condemn to hell; To condemn; to declare... |
| 3 | Middle English | dampnen | to damn |
| 4 | Old French | dampner | to damn |
| 5 | Latin | damnō | to discredit, find fault, disapprove, reject |
| 6 | Latin | damnum | damage or injury; loss; a fine |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | dapnom | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dh₂pnóm | expense, investment |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | deh₂p- | to sacrifice; to lose |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | deh₂- | to share, divide |