Ark

ärk, n. a chest or coffer: in Jewish history, the wooden coffer in which the Tables of the Law were kept—hence To touch or Lay hands on the ark , to touch irreverently what is sacred (2 Sam. vi. 6): a large floating ve el, like that in which Noah escaped the Deluge (Gen. vi.-viii.).— adj. and n. Ark′ite . [A.S. arc —L. arc a , a chest— arcēre , to guard.]