Cooper

/ˈkuːpər/

nounIntermediateRareGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A person who makes or repairs wooden barrels and casks.

/ˈkuːpər/

nounneutralIntermediate
General

A person who makes or repairs barrels and casks.

The cooper skillfully crafted a new oak barrel for storing wine.

💡 Simply: Imagine you need a super strong container to keep your lemonade or pickles fresh. A cooper is the person who builds those containers, usually out of wood, like the big barrels you see in old movies! They're like the carpenters of containers.

👶 For kids: A cooper is someone who makes barrels and other wooden containers.

More Examples

2

The village relied on the local cooper to maintain their supply of casks.

How It's Used

Historical

"Many early American settlers employed a cooper to build and maintain their barrels."

Industry

"The cooper's skilled craftsmanship was essential for storing liquids and goods."

2

To make or repair barrels or casks.

/ˈkuːpər/

verbneutralAdvanced
General

He learned to cooper barrels as an apprentice.

💡 Simply: If you're building or fixing those big wooden barrels, you are 'coopering'. It's a fancy way of saying 'building barrels.'

👶 For kids: To cooper means to make or fix barrels.

More Examples

2

The workshop specializes in coopering antique casks.

How It's Used

Industry

"The skilled artisan spent years learning to cooper barrels."

Historical

"They would cooper the barrels for the storage of the products."

Tip:The *cooper* *coopers* barrels.

From Middle Dutch or Middle Low German *küper* (a barrel maker). The surname developed from the occupation.

The term 'cooper' dates back to the medieval period and was a crucial trade in societies reliant on wooden containers for storage and transportation.

Memory tip

Think of the 'coop' (barrel) and the person who *coops* it (makes it).

coupercoeper

Usage

10%Spoken
90%Written