Pronunciation: [kˈɒpəz] (IPA) 
The word "coppers" is spelled with double p and double s, which may confuse some readers. However, its phonetic transcription [ˈkɒpəz] makes it clearer: the first syllable is pronounced as "cop" (like in the word "copier"), while the second syllable has a voiced "z" sound, as in "fizz" or "buzz". "Coppers" is a plural noun and informal term for coins of low value, especially pennies or other copper coins.
Coppers, in its informal and colloquial sense, refers to a plural noun used to denote police officers, particularly in British English. The term originates from the British slang word “cop”, which is a shortened form of “copper”, itself derived from the verb “to cop” meaning to seize or capture. Coppers is primarily used in casual conversation, often among younger people or within communities where British slang is prevalent.
The term coppers can also refer to the copper coins of low value, predominantly found in the British currency system, such as the penny or the two-pence coin. These coins used to be made mainly of copper, although they have been modified in more recent years to include a mix of steel and copper plating. The plural form of this noun, coppers, is used when referring to a collection or sum of these coins.
Furthermore, in the context of chemistry or metallurgy, coppers can be defined as a plural noun referring to various copper-based alloys. These alloys typically contain copper as their primary component and are often utilized in the manufacturing of electrical conductors, piping, or decorative items due to copper’s excellent thermal and electrical conductivity as well as its resistance to corrosion.
Overall, coppers can refer to police officers, low-value copper coins, or copper-based alloys, depending on the specific context in which the term is used.
The word "coppers" has a somewhat complex etymology. It is derived from the Middle English word "copper", which was used to refer to a vessel made from copper. This Middle English term ultimately stems from the Old English word "coper", which meant "copper" or "bronze".
The Old English term "coper" itself was borrowed from the Latin word "cuprum", which is the Latin name for copper. The Latin word "cuprum" might have been influenced by the name of the island of Cyprus, which was a significant source of copper in ancient times.
Over time, "copper" came to refer not only to the metal itself but also to the coins made from it. In British English, "coppers" became a colloquial term for the smallest-denomination copper coins like the British penny.
