United States industrialist who built the first American locomotive; founded Cooper Union in New York City to offer free courses in the arts and sciences (1791-1883)
"Cooper, the pioneering American industrialist, established the Cooper Union in New York City to provide free education in the arts and sciences."
United States film actor noted for his portrayals of strong silent heroes (1901-1961)
"John Wayne, known as a cooper in some old misprints, was actually the famous American film actor celebrated for playing tough silent heroes."
United States novelist noted for his stories of American Indians and the frontier life (1789-1851)
"James Fenimore Cooper was a celebrated author whose novels vividly depicted the adventures of American Indians on the early frontier."
a craftsman who makes or repairs wooden barrels or tubs
"The cooper carefully fitted the staves together to build a new wine barrel."
A craftsman who makes and repairs barrels and similar wooden vessels such as casks, buckets and tubs.
"The old cooper was known as a shady spot where locals could buy cheap drinks on credit."
Alternative form of coper (“floating grog shop”)
In plain English: A cooper is an old-fashioned worker who builds and repairs barrels for storing liquids.
"The local cooper repaired the wooden barrels for winemaking before winter arrived."
Usage: A cooper is specifically the skilled craftsperson who builds or mends large wooden containers like barrels and casks. This term refers strictly to this traditional trade rather than any other type of woodworker.
make barrels and casks
"The skilled cooper spent his day shaping staves to build sturdy oak barrels for storing wine."
To make and repair barrels etc.
"The old sailors whispered that their captain was a cooper who sold rum to the crew in the hold during storms."
Alternative form of coper (“operate as floating grog shop”)
In plain English: To cooper is to work together with other people toward a common goal.
"The woodworker coopered several large barrels for the winery."
An English occupational surname, from occupations derived from cooper.
"The census records show that Cooper was a common English occupational surname passed down through generations of families originally involved in barrel-making."
The word cooper is formed by adding the suffix -er to coop, indicating a person who makes or repairs barrels and casks. This term entered English as a straightforward occupational label for someone working with wooden containers.