1. [n]  a chest especially for storing valuables
2. [n]  an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome

1. \Cof"fer\ (?; 115), n. [OF. cofre, F. coffre, L. cophinus
   basket, fr. Gr. ?. Cf. {Coffin}, n.]
   1. A casket, chest, or trunk; especially, one used for
      keeping money or other valuables. --Chaucer.
            In ivory coffers I have stuffed my crowns. --Shak.
   2. Fig.: Treasure or funds; -- usually in the plural.
            He would discharge it without any burden to the
            queen's coffers, for honor sake.      --Bacon.
            Hold, here is half my coffer.         --Shak.
   3. (Arch.) A panel deeply recessed in the ceiling of a vault,
      dome, or portico; a caisson.
   4. (Fort.) A trench dug in the bottom of a dry moat, and
      extending across it, to enable the besieged to defend it
      by a raking fire.
   5. The chamber of a canal lock; also, a caisson or a
      cofferdam.
   {Coffer dam}. (Engin.) See {Cofferdam}, in the Vocabulary.
   {Coffer fish}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Cowfish}.
   

2. \Cof"fer\, v. t.
   1. To put into a coffer. --Bacon.
   2. (Mining.) To secure from leaking, as a shaft, by ramming
      clay behind the masonry or timbering. --Raymond.
   3. To form with or in a coffer or coffers; to furnish with a
      coffer or coffers.
   

the receptacle or small box placed beside the ark by the Philistines, in which they deposited the golden mice and the emerods as their trespass-offering (1 Sam. 6:8, 11, 15).