/ ˈkɒpə(r); NAmE ˈkɑːp-/ noun
1.
[ U ] ( symb Cu ) a chemical element. Copper is a soft reddish-brown metal used for making electric wires, pipes and coins :
a copper mine
copper pipes
copper-coloured hair
2.
coppers [ pl. ] ( BrE ) brown coins that do not have much value :
I only paid a few coppers for it.
3.
[ C ] ( BrE , informal ) a police officer
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WORD ORIGIN
senses 1 to 2 Old English copor , coper (related to Dutch koper and German Kupfer ), based on late Latin cuprum , from Latin cyprium aes Cyprus metal (so named because Cyprus was the chief source).
sense 3 mid 19th cent.: from cop + -er .