What does acca mean?
Acca is a rare English noun denoting a small chest or box. It is not a modern everyday term, but it can be useful in historical prose, literary description, or a deliberately archaic register. In context, acca means a compact receptacle rather than a large container: an inventory might call a small locked box an acca, just as a narrator might use the word when emphasizing the scale and solidity of a chest. The word is mostly encountered in dated or obsolete contexts, so modern speakers are more likely to choose box, chest, coffer, or cabinet. Acca also has an interesting etymological connection: it is traced to Latin arca, meaning a chest or box, and the related Latin word lies behind English ark. The entry therefore preserves a small but genuine piece of English word history, connecting an uncommon name for a container with a familiar word that continues to denote a large vessel.
nounA small chest or box. The word is now rare and chiefly occurs in historical or dated usage.
- A small chest or box.
"The jeweller placed the smallest acca on a velvet-covered table."
"The jeweller placed the smallest acca on a velvet-covered table."
"The old inventory refers to an acca beside the writing desk."
The regular English plural is accas.
"The catalogue lists three accas among the estate's smaller valuables."
One letter separates acca from Latin arca, “chest,” the source of both the rare word and familiar ark.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does acca come from?
Acca is generally traced to Latin arca, a word meaning a chest, box, or money-box. The English noun is rare and its present form differs from the Latin source through the loss of the initial r. Latin arca is also the source of English ark, making ark an established etymological cognate.
How acca is actually used
Acca is uncommon in contemporary English and has a dated or archaic quality. In modern usage, box or chest will usually be clearer and more familiar.
Easily confused with acca
An arc is a curved line or part of a circle, whereas an acca is a small chest or box.