casket
/ˈkɑːskɪt
/noun
1A small ornamental box or chest for holding jewels, letters, or other valued objects: a small brass casket containing four black opals...
- Originally a toilet box, jewel casket, or container for incense, it was adopted as early as the 4th century to hold the reserved Host, and carry it in procession or to the sick.
- This social comedy takes on new height when Tony attempts to help Constance and her lover elope with her casket of jewels.
- She took from her jewel casket all her finest brooches and pins, and chose again the silver one covered with garnets, as it was largest and most beautiful.
Synonyms
box, chest, case, container, receptacle, coffer, trunk, crate
rare pyxis
1.1British A small wooden box for cremated ashes.But under these were three wooden caskets, so neat it was clear that someone had looked after them....
- Investigating officers say the vandals had to dig 3ft into the ground to get at the wooden casket containing Margaret's ashes.
- The cremated bones are thought to have originally lain in a locked wooden casket decorated with lion-headed studs and bronze rings.
1.2chiefly North American A coffin.He gave it to my mother to clutch to her chest as the casket was lowered into the ground....
- Police top brass carry the casket, wrapped in the colours of the South African flag, to the grave.
- Then the children put their letters into the casket and kissed their mother's forehead, then Jonathon put his letter in the casket and looked at his wife.
Synonyms
coffin, box
informal wooden overcoat
historical sarcophagus, cist
Origin
Late Middle English: perhaps an Anglo-Norman French form of Old French cassette, diminutive of casse (see case2).