copper-bottomedadj.
Having the bottom covered or sheathed with copper. Also figurative thoroughly sound, genuine, authentic, trustworthy. spec. of ships, as a protection against the destruction of the planks by the teredo, and the accumulation on the surface of shells and weeds which retard the ship's motion. First applied to ships of the British navy in 1761.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessel with reference to qualities or attributes > [adjective] > having bottom sheathed
copper-bottomed1795
sheathed1889
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > foundation in fact, validity > [adjective]
goodOE
substantial1419
soundc1440
allowablec1443
stronga1475
stable1481
infallible1526
sore1530
sincere1536
acknowledged1548
of…validity1581
firm1600
acknowledgeable1630
valiant1632
infallid1635
valid1651
copper-bottomed1890
1795 Hull Advertiser 23 May 2/1 The copper-bottomed ship Ann.
1796 G. Pearson in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 86 451 This effect of copper upon the iron bolts and nails, in copper-bottomed ships.
1814 Salmagundi (new ed.) I. x. 246 The copper-bottomed angel at messrs. Paff's in Broadway.
1829 F. Marryat Naval Officer II. ix. 290 The wreck proved to be a..copper-bottomed schooner.
1890 J. S. Farmer Slang I. s.v. A 1 In mercantile circles, the expression has become popularly current, in a figurative sense, to signify the highest commercial credit; and..first-class; first-rate. The form varies, being rendered by..A 1 copper-bottomed, [etc.].
1894 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne Ebb-tide ii. vii The real, first-rate, copper-bottomed aristocrat.
1937 A. Calder-Marshall in C. Day Lewis Mind in Chains 73 The attitude can then be adopted: ‘..We are moderates. Good, solid, honest to God, copper-bottomed capitalists.’
1961 Times 9 Nov. 16/2 The genuine copper-bottomed novel-reader's novel is becoming a rare article.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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adj.1795