I. ˈkȯ-fər, ˈkä- noun
Etymology: Middle English coffre, from Anglo-French, ultimately from Latin cophinus basket, from Greek kophinos
Date: 13th century
1. : chest ; especially : strongbox
2. : treasury , funds — usually used in plural
3. : a recessed panel in a vault, ceiling, or soffit
II. transitive verb
Date: 14th century
1. : to store or hoard up in a coffer
2. : to form (as a ceiling) with recessed panels