copperfasten en · VERB
Pronunciation
- /ˈkɒpəˌfɑːsn̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈkɑpɚˌfæsn̩/ (General-American)
Etymology
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.
Meanings
-
(historical, transitive) To 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
-
(Ireland, UK, figuratively, transitive) To 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 1948This 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
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| copperfastening | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| copperfastens | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| copperfastened | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| copperfastened | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| copper fasten | alternative | lexicographic | |
| copper-fasten | alternative | lexicographic |