copperfasten

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US/ˈkɑpɚˌfæsn̩/UK/ˈkɒpəˌfɑːsn̩/

verb

To protect the timbers of (a ship) with plates of copper secured with copper nails or bolts.

Scrabble 21
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Meanings

verbcopperfasten (third-person singular simple present copperfastens, present participle copperfastening, simple past and past participle copperfastened)

present singular third person copperfastens · participle present copperfastening · participle past copperfastened · past copperfastened · alternative copper fasten · alternative copper-fasten

  1. historicaltransitiveTo protect the timbers of (a ship) with plates of copper secured with copper nails or bolts.

    She is copper-fastened and copper-bottomed, and a remarkable fine ship.

    1796, The Hull Advertiser, 9th July 1796
  2. IrelandUKfigurativelytransitiveTo reinforce, strengthen; to make permanent, embed.

    We had some striking examples of what happens when a guy gets so big for his britches that any pal of his is automatically a copper-fastened genius.

    1948, The Evening Independent, November 1948
    1 more example

    This brings to an end a ten-year campaign by Pol O Murchú and other Irish language activists to copperfasten rights to have Irish language legislation made available […]

    2010 “Supreme Court rules on law translation”, RTÉ News, May 6, 2010

Origin

From copper + fasten. From copper sheathing of ship hulls (to protect from damage by marine organisms. Originally copper sheathing but non-copper bolts were used, leading to corrosion. Later copper bolts (fasteners) were also used, eliminating corrosion issues. Literal sense from 18th century, metaphorical sense attested 1948.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

copperfasten. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/copperfasten

MLA

“copperfasten.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/copperfasten. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “copperfasten,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/copperfasten.

Source: copperfasten on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.