Coal
[kəʊl] or [kol]
Definition
(noun.) fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period.
(verb.) take in coal; 'The big ship coaled'.
(verb.) supply with coal.
Editor: Susanna--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A thoroughly charred, and extinguished or still ignited, fragment from wood or other combustible substance; charcoal.
(n.) A black, or brownish black, solid, combustible substance, dug from beds or veins in the earth to be used for fuel, and consisting, like charcoal, mainly of carbon, but more compact, and often affording, when heated, a large amount of volatile matter.
(v. t.) To burn to charcoal; to char.
(v. t.) To mark or delineate with charcoal.
(v. t.) To supply with coal; as, to coal a steamer.
(v. i.) To take in coal; as, the steamer coaled at Southampton.
Edited by Glenn
Definition
n. a solid black combustible substance used for fuel dug out of the earth: cinder.—v.i. to take in coal.—v.t. to supply with coal.—n. Coal′-bed a stratum of coal.—adj. Coal′-black black as coal very black.—ns. Coal′-box a box for holding coal; Coal′-brass a name applied to the pyrites in the coal-measures; Coal′field a field or district containing coal strata; Coal′-fish a fish of the cod family so named from the black colour of its back; Coal′-gas the mixture of gases produced by the destructive distillation of coal chiefly carburetted hydrogen—giving the gaslight in common use; Coal′-heav′er one employed in carrying coal; Coal′-house a covered-in place for keeping coal; Coal′man one who has to do with coals; Coal′-mas′ter the owner or lessee of a coalfield; Coal′-meas′ure a measure by which the quantity of coal is ascertained: (pl.) the group of carboniferous strata in which coal is found (geol.); Coal′-mine Coal′-pit a pit or mine from which coal is dug; Coal′-own′er one who owns a colliery; Coal′-plant a fossil plant of the carboniferous strata; Coal′-scutt′le a vessel for holding coal; Coal′-tar or Gas-tar a thick black opaque liquid which condenses in the pipes when coal or petroleum is distilled; Coal′-trim′mer one who stores or shifts coal on board vessels; Coal′-whip′per one employed in unloading coal from vessels at anchor to barges which convey it to the wharves.—adj. Coal′y of or like coal.—Coaling station a port at which steamships take in coal; Coal-scuttle bonnet a woman's bonnet shaped like a coal-scuttle upside down.—Blind or Anthracite coal that which does not flame when kindled; Bituminous coal that which does; Brown coal (see Brown); Caking coal a bituminous coal which cakes or fuses into one mass in the fire; Cannel or Parrot coal (see Cannel); Cherry or Soft coal coal breaking off easily into small irregular cubes having beautiful shining lustre; Splint Hard or Block coal plentiful in Scotland hard breaking into cuboidal blocks.—Blow the coals to excite passion; Carry coals to Newcastle to take a thing where it is least needed; Haul over the coals reprimand—from the discipline applied to heretics; Heap coals of fire on the head to excite remorse by returning good for evil (Rom. xii. 20).
Typed by Eugenia
Unserious Contents or Definition
To see bright coals of fire, denotes pleasure and many pleasant changes. To dream you handle them yourself, denotes unmitigated joy. To see dead coals implies trouble and disappointments.
Edited by Emily
Examples
- There were numerous dragon flies--one found in the Belgian coal-measures had a wing span of twenty-nine inches! H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Many varieties of coal produce a quantity of fine dust which settles in the roadways, on roof, and sides, and floor. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- The latter was encumbered with barges of coal in tow, and consequently could make but little speed against the rapid current of the Mississippi. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Many coal mines in Scotland are wrought in this manner, and can be wrought in no other. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- A dangerous but very extensively used illuminating liquid before coal oil was discovered was camphene, distilled from turpentine. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- These discoveries, added to the long observed fact of coal oil floating on streams in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, led to the search for its natural source. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- Water power is as great a source of wealth as a coal bed or a gold mine. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- The coal in the retorts is not entirely consumed, but is reduced to the condition of coke, and in this form is sold for fuel. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- The ideas and methods of Murdoch and Lebon soon took definite shape, and coal smoke was piped from its place of origin to distant points of consumption. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- The annual production of anthracite coal in Pennsylvania is more than 86,000,000 tons of 2,240 pounds, valued at the mines at $198,000,000. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- It is said that in 1664 Sir John Winter of England made coke by burning sea coal in closed pots. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- The direct production of electric energy by the combustion of coal would be the ideal method. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- The quantity and the quality of the gas yielded by coal differ materially according to the kind employed. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- Among them was the owner of a colliery in the north named Blackett, who built a number of engines for propelling coal-cars and used them at his mines. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- The boilers were fired by wood, as the economical transportation of coal was a physical impossibility. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Rent, even where coals afford one, has generally a smaller share in their price than in that of most other parts of the rude produce of land. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Here is a weekly allowance, with a certain weight of coals, drops from the clouds upon me. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Coals may be considered both as a material of manufacture, and as an instrument of trade. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Coals carried, either by land or by inland navigation, pay no duty. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- They slept, or appeared to sleep, for some time; nobody stirring but Barney, who rose once or twice to throw coals on the fire. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Are coals to be relied upon? Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- The woman of Pablo said nothing and went on blowing up the coals of the fire. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- At any rate, let them pay the cost of their coals. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- And I don't think my sermons are worth a load of coals to them. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- The quantity of coals requisite for the production of the gas manufactured annually in London is upwards of 600,000 tons. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- Had the different strata of clay, gravel, marble, coals, limestone, sand, minerals, &c. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- Search him, slaves--for an ye suffer a second impostor to be palmed upon you, I will have your eyes torn out, and hot coals put into the sockets. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- But, the confiding young man proceeded to heap coals of fire on his sensitive head. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- The hydrogen gas is so obtained by the decomposition of water, effected by passing steam through highly heated coals. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- Hot coals, red-hot stoves, gas flames, and candles shine by their own light, and are self-luminous. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
Typist: Morton