noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/kɔːf/
General-American:/kɔɹf/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)f
1
noun
Meaning 1
A large basket, especially as used for coal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: business, mining
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A container (basket, wooden box with holes etc.) used to store live fish underwater.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: fishing, hobbies, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A wooden frame, sled, or low-wheeled wagon, to convey coal or ore in the mines.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: business, mining
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English corf, borrowed from Middle Low German korf or Middle Dutch korf, ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *korb.
Across languages
Translations
15 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
hiilikori
— large basket, especially as used for coal
Irish:
féan guail
— large basket, especially as used for coal
Māori:
pūkirikiri
— large basket, especially as used for coal
Polish:
kosz do noszenia węgla
— large basket, especially as used for coal
Bulgarian:
винтер
(vinter)
— container used to store live fish underwater
Danish:
hyttefad
— container used to store live fish underwater
Danish:
dam
— container used to store live fish underwater
Finnish:
sumppu
— container used to store live fish underwater
German:
Fischkasten
— container used to store live fish underwater
Māori:
whakarino
— container used to store live fish underwater
Māori:
korotete
— container used to store live fish underwater
Polish:
sadz
— container used to store live fish underwater
Portuguese:
cofo
— container used to store live fish underwater
Portuguese:
samburá
— container used to store live fish underwater
Swedish:
sump
— container used to store live fish underwater