coppers

1. a red-brown metal, the chemical element of atomic number 29.
2. brown coins of low value made of copper or bronze.
3. a large copper or iron container for boiling laundry.
4. a reddish-brown colour like that of copper.

   she had copper-coloured hair

5. a small butterfly with bright reddish-brown wings.

1. cover or coat (something) with copper.

   some iron hulls were sheathed with wood and then coppered

   coppered pins

Old English copor, coper (related to Dutch koper and German Kupfer ), based on late Latin cuprum, from Latin cyprium aes ‘Cyprus metal’ (so named because Cyprus was the chief source).

plural noun

a police officer.

mid 19th century: from cop¹ + -er¹.