I. ˈkä-pər noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English coper, from Old English, from Late Latin cuprum copper, from Latin ( aes ) Cyprium, literally, Cyprian metal
Date: before 12th century
1. : a common reddish metallic element that is ductile and malleable and is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity — see element table
2. : a coin or token made of copper or bronze
3. chiefly British : a large boiler (as for cooking)
4. : any of a subfamily (Lycaeninae of the family Lycaenidae) of small butterflies with usually copper-colored wings
II. transitive verb
( cop·pered ; cop·per·ing ˈkä-p(ə-)riŋ)
Date: 1530
: to coat or sheathe with or as if with copper
III. noun
Etymology: cop (II)
Date: 1846
: police officer