copper

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Coppered p. pr. & vb. n. Coppering. ] To cover or coat with copper; to sheathe with sheets of copper; as, to copper a ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. coper (cf. D. koper, Sw. koppar, Dan. kobber, G. kupfer), LL. cuper, fr. L. cuprum for earlier Cyprium, Cyprium aes, i.e., Cyprian brass, fr. Gr. &unr_; of Cyprus (Gr. &unr_;), anciently renowned for its copper mines. Cf. Cypreous. ] 1. A common metal of a reddish color, both ductile and malleable, and very tenacious. It is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity. Symbol Cu. Atomic weight 63.3. It is one of the most useful metals in itself, and also in its alloys, brass and bronze. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Copper is the only metal which occurs native abundantly in large masses; it is found also in various ores, of which the most important are chalcopyrite, chalcocite, cuprite, and malachite. Copper mixed with tin forms bell metal; with a smaller proportion, bronze; and with zinc, it forms brass, pinchbeck, and other alloys. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A coin made of copper; a penny, cent, or other minor coin of copper. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

My friends filled my pockets with coppers. Franklin. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A vessel, especially a large boiler, made of copper. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. pl. Specifically (Naut.), the boilers in the galley for cooking; as, a ship's coppers. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Copper is often used adjectively, commonly in the sense of made or consisting of copper, or resembling copper; as, a copper boiler, tube, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

All in a hot and copper sky. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is sometimes written in combination; as, copperplate, coppersmith, copper-colored. [ 1913 Webster ]

Copper finch. (Zool.) See Chaffinch. --
Copper glance, or
Vitreous copper. (Min.) See Chalcocite. --
Indigo copper. (Min.) See Covelline. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. to provide with a copper bottom.
Syn. -- copperbottom. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. to bind with a cord, tie with a cord.
Syn. -- cord up. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Having a bottom made of copper, as a tin boiler or other vessel, or sheathed with copper, as a ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Faced or covered with copper; as, copper-faced type. [ 1913 Webster ]

a.Fastened with copper bolts, as the planks of ships, etc.; as, a copper-fastened ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From its color. ] 1. (Zool.) A poisonous American serpent (Ancistrodon conotortrix), closely allied to the rattlesnake, but without rattles; -- called also copper-belly, and red viper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A nickname applied to a person in the Northern States who sympathized with the South during the Civil War. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of covering with copper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An envelope or covering of copper. [ 1913 Webster ]