cooper

1 of 2

noun

coo·​per ˈkü-pər How to pronounce cooper (audio) ˈku̇- How to pronounce cooper (audio)
: one that makes or repairs wooden casks or tubs

cooper

2 of 2

verb

coopered; coopering ˈkü-p(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce cooper (audio)
ˈku̇-

transitive verb

: to work as a cooper on

intransitive verb

: to work at or do coopering

Examples of cooper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Forty-two gallons, agreed in Titusville, Pennsylvania, in August 1866, because that was the size of a tierce, the watertight cask coopers had been making for centuries to ship fish and wine. — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Several of the houses have a special person on staff just for the barrels, a cooper who manufactures and replaces the slats that have worn out. — Kyle Lucia Wu, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
Verb
The slopes here are renowned for its thousands of cherry blossom trees, explains DiPasquale, but within them there is a small golden ring of cedar trees which are the only wood used to cooper barrels for cedar aging sake. — Jillian Dara, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for cooper

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English couper, cowper, from Middle Dutch cūper (from cūpe cask) or Middle Low German kūper, from kūpe cask; Middle Dutch cūpe & Middle Low German kūpe, from Latin cupa; akin to Greek kypellon cup — more at hive

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1720, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of cooper was in the 15th century

Rhymes for cooper

See All Rhymes for cooper

Browse Nearby Words

co-op
cooper
Cooper
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cooper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cooper. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cooper

noun
coo·​per
ˈkü-pər, 
ˈku̇p-ər
: a worker who makes or repairs wooden casks, tubs, or barrels

Biographical Definition

Cooper 1 of 4

biographical name (1)

Anthony Ashley see shaftesbury

Cooper

2 of 4

biographical name (2)

Coo·​per ˈkü-pər How to pronounce Cooper (audio) ˈku̇- How to pronounce Cooper (audio)
James Fen*i*more ˈfen-ə-ˌmȯr How to pronounce Cooper (audio) 1789–1851 American novelist

Cooper

3 of 4

biographical name (3)

Leon Neil 1930–2024 American physicist

Cooper

4 of 4

biographical name (4)

Peter 1791–1883 American manufacturer and philanthropist
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