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copper-bottom

copper-bottom

8.5
A sheet of copper fixed to a ship's bottom to stop barnacles and sea life
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑːpərˌbɑːtəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cobreado
  • Many old vessels featured a copper-bottom for better durability.

Examples

  • The ship was equipped with a copper-bottom to prevent damage from barnacles and other marine life.

  • After years of use, the copper-bottom on the hull still protected the vessel from wear and tear.

  • The old sailing ship still had its original copper-bottom after more than a century at sea.

  • Workers inspected the copper-bottom for signs of corrosion before the vessel was launched.

  • Installing a copper-bottom helped protect ships from barnacles and other marine organisms.

  • The ship had a copper-bottom to prevent barnacles from attaching.

  • They installed a copper-bottom on the boat to enhance its durability against harsh ocean conditions.

Surface Forms

copper-bottom singular

Morphology

copper-bottom = copper + bottom (transparent) = copper + bottom

Refers to the literal copper covering on a ship's hull bottom; the compound's meaning is directly compositional.

Etymology

Copper-bottom is a sheet of copper fixed to a ship's bottom to stop barnacles and protect the hull from damage. So a ship with a copper-bottom stayed cleaner and lasted longer at sea.