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cofferdam
cofferdam.
1. A temporary structure in the form of an enclosed dam which can be erected on the seabed or the bed of a river and pumped dry to enable men to work within it below water level without having to wear diving suits. They are used largely in harbour works and for the construction of the piers of bridges. See also caisson. 2. Heavy transverse bulkheads in large merchant vessels, particularly tankers, built as a safety measure between the holds or oil tanks. They consist of a double bulkhead with a narrow space between them, the space frequently being used for the carriage of oil fuel or water ballast. |
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Cite this article
"cofferdam." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cofferdam." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-cofferdam.html "cofferdam." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-cofferdam.html |
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cofferdam
cofferdam temporary barrier for excluding water from an area that is normally submerged. Made commonly of wood, steel, or concrete sheet piling (see pile ), cofferdams are used in constructing the foundations of dams, bridges, and similar subaqueous structures and for temporary drydocks. If double sheeting is utilized, the space between the sheets is usually filled with clay and gravel. When great strain or pressure is likely to be encountered, as in deep water, the pneumatic caisson is preferred to the cofferdam.
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Cite this article
"cofferdam." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cofferdam." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-cofferda.html "cofferdam." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-cofferda.html |
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cofferdam
cof·fer·dam / ˈkôfərˌdam; ˈkäfərˌdam/ • n. a watertight enclosure pumped dry to permit construction work below the waterline, as when building bridges or repairing a ship. |
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Cite this article
"cofferdam." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cofferdam." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cofferdam.html "cofferdam." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cofferdam.html |
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cofferdam
cofferdam
•am, Amsterdam, Assam, Bram, cam, cham, cheongsam, clam, cram, dam, damn, drachm, dram, exam, femme, flam, gam, glam, gram, ham, jam, jamb, lam, lamb, mam, mesdames, Omar Khayyám, Pam, pram, pro-am, ram, Sam, scam, scram, sham, Siam, slam, Spam, swam, tam, tram, Vietnam, wham, yam
•in memoriam • ad nauseam
•iamb, Priam
•grandam • Edam • goddam
•quondam • Potsdam • cofferdam
•Rotterdam • Oxfam • Birmingham
•Abraham • logjam • CAD-CAM
•minicam • Nicam
•Eelam, Elam
•flimflam • oriflamme • Suriname
•ad personam • diazepam • tangram
•ashram • telegram • milligram
•epigram • centigram • dithyramb
•program, programme
•cardiogram • radiogram • echogram
•mammogram
•aerogramme (US aerogram)
•microgram • dirham
•electrocardiogram • ideogram
•heliogram • diaphragm • diagram
•parallelogram • kilogram • hologram
•encephalogram • anagram
•monogram • sonogram • kissogram
•pentagram • cryptogram • photogram
•tam-tam • wigwam • whim-wham
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Cite this article
"cofferdam." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cofferdam." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-cofferdam.html "cofferdam." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-cofferdam.html |
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