From Middle English col, from Old English col, from Proto-West Germanic *kol, from Proto-Germanic *kulą (“coal”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵwelH- (“to burn, shine”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian kööl (“coal”), Saterland Frisian Koole (“coal”), West Frisian koal (“coal”), Cimbrian kholl (“coal”), Dutch kool (“coal; carbon”), German Kohle (“coal”), Limburgish Kǫe̩l (“coal”), Luxembourgish Kuel (“coal”), Vilamovian köła (“coal”), Yiddish קויל (koyl, “coal”), Danish kul (“coal”), Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish kol (“coal; carbon”), Jamtish kuł (“coal; carbon”), Norwegian Bokmål kol, kull (“coal”). Compare Irish and Scottish Gaelic gual (“coal”), Manx geayl (“coal”), Lithuanian žvi̇̀lti (“to glow, twinkle”), Persian زکال (zakâl), زکار (zekâr), زغال (zoġâl, “coal”), Tocharian B śoliye (“hearth”), Sanskrit ज्वल् (jval, “to burn, glow”), all from the same root.
A black or brownish black rock formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of carbon and burned as a fuel.
The coal in this region was prized by ironmasters in centuries past, who mined it in the spots where the drainage methods of the day permitted.
Coal-eaters they may have been, but a more willing or harder working Atlantic engine was never designed.1947 January and February, O. S. Nock, “"The Aberdonian" in Wartime”, in Railway Magazine, pages 3, 5:
2
A type of coal, such as bituminous, anthracite, or lignite, and grades and varieties thereof, as a fuel commodity ready to buy and burn.
Put some coal on the fire.
Order some coal from the coalyard.
3
A piece of coal used for burning (this use is less common in American English)
Put some coals on the fire.
4
A glowing or charred piece of coal, wood, or other solid fuel.
hot coals
glowing coals
1 more example
Just as the campfire died down to just coals, with no flames to burn the marshmallows, someone dumped a whole load of wood on, so I gave up and went to bed.
From Middle English col, from Old English col, from Proto-West Germanic *kol, from Proto-Germanic *kulą (“coal”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵwelH- (“to burn, shine”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian kööl (“coal”), Saterland Frisian Koole (“coal”), West Frisian koal (“coal”), Cimbrian kholl (“coal”), Dutch kool (“coal; carbon”), German Kohle (“coal”), Limburgish Kǫe̩l (“coal”), Luxembourgish Kuel (“coal”), Vilamovian köła (“coal”), Yiddish קויל (koyl, “coal”), Danish kul (“coal”), Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish kol (“coal; carbon”), Jamtish kuł (“coal; carbon”), Norwegian Bokmål kol, kull (“coal”). Compare Irish and Scottish Gaelic gual (“coal”), Manx geayl (“coal”), Lithuanian žvi̇̀lti (“to glow, twinkle”), Persian زکال (zakâl), زکار (zekâr), زغال (zoġâl, “coal”), Tocharian B śoliye (“hearth”), Sanskrit ज्वल् (jval, “to burn, glow”), all from the same root.
1
To take on a supply of coal (usually of steam ships or locomotives).
1863, Colonial Secretary to Commander Baldwin, USN shortly after that she coaled again at Simon's Bay; and that after remaining in the neighbourhood of our ports for a time, she proceeded to Mauritius, where she coaled again, and then returned to this colony.
Our next stopping-place was Newcastle, and here we coaled in earnest, for the steamer was flying light, and was loaded up in every available place.1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 131:
2 more examples
The light shook and splintered in the puddles. A red glare came from an outward-bound steamer that was coaling.1890, Oscar Wilde, chapter XVI, in The Picture of Dorian Gray:
N.W.R. four-cylinder 4-6-2 class "XS1," No. 761, coaling at Delhi junction. This class is the most powerful passenger engine in India.1949 November and December, Railway Magazine, page 371 (photo caption):
2
To supply with coal.
to coal a steamer
January 1917, National Geographic Magazine, Volume 31 Number 1, One Hundred British Seaports Cruisers may be coaled at sea and provided with ammunition openly. The submarine may not
2 more examples
After working the 1.30 p.m. through train from Forres to Aberdeen as far as Elgin, she returns tender first with a local passenger train and is then coaled and watered at Forres shed, and eventually works back to Perth on the 10.20 p.m. through freight.1944 January and February, W. McGowan Gradon, “Forres as a Railway Centre”, in Railway Magazine, page 23:
The cleaner worked, of course, at nights. He had to coal and light up the engine, as well as clean it, for the next day's work, which commenced with a light run to Barnham to "bring in the goods" from that station at about 6.30 a.m.1952 February, J. Pelham Maitland, “Locomotive Working on Sussex Branches Fifty Years Ago”, in Railway Magazine, page 84:
3
To be converted to charcoal.
After the initial burn the goal of any good fire should be coaling; that is, creating a bed of solid coals that will sustain the fire.2014, Ken Mudge, Steve Gabriel, Farming the Woods:
As a result, particles of wood and twigs insufficiently coaled are frequently found at the bottom of such pits.1957, H.R. Schubert, History of the British Iron and Steel Industry, page 18:
4
To burn to charcoal; to char.
Char-coal of roots, coaled into great pieces.1622, Francis Bacon, Natural History:
5
To mark or delineate with charcoal.
[…] marvailing, he coaled out these rithms upon the wall near to the picture1551, William Camden, Remains concerning Britain:
coal
adj
Etymology
From Middle English col, from Old English col, from Proto-West Germanic *kol, from Proto-Germanic *kulą (“coal”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵwelH- (“to burn, shine”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian kööl (“coal”), Saterland Frisian Koole (“coal”), West Frisian koal (“coal”), Cimbrian kholl (“coal”), Dutch kool (“coal; carbon”), German Kohle (“coal”), Limburgish Kǫe̩l (“coal”), Luxembourgish Kuel (“coal”), Vilamovian köła (“coal”), Yiddish קויל (koyl, “coal”), Danish kul (“coal”), Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish kol (“coal; carbon”), Jamtish kuł (“coal; carbon”), Norwegian Bokmål kol, kull (“coal”). Compare Irish and Scottish Gaelic gual (“coal”), Manx geayl (“coal”), Lithuanian žvi̇̀lti (“to glow, twinkle”), Persian زکال (zakâl), زکار (zekâr), زغال (zoġâl, “coal”), Tocharian B śoliye (“hearth”), Sanskrit ज्वल् (jval, “to burn, glow”), all from the same root.
1
No comparative Black like coal; coal-black.
... his coal hair / the corners of his warm smile / the blue of his gentle eyes. I wanted to explore him as Sir Francis Drake explored the New World. I wanted to tell my secrets to him as a Roman Catholic does in confession.2004, Terence Kingsley-Smith, Terry Kingsley-Smith, Thorp Green: A Tale of the Brontës:
His coal hair streaked through the gushing of freezing air and the base of the silk robe fluttered splendidly. The Lord of Blood, adorned with glossy armor and atop a stalwart steed, appeared to have the opulence of a king. White hills[…]2010, Rhett C. Bruno, Isinda: Fallen Dagger, Tate Publishing, →ISBN, page 126:
4 more examples
Just entering the ballroom were a cat and a bird. The cat had black ears nestled in his coal hair and a purple mask over his violet eyes. He had a long ebony tail. 99 9.2011, C. C. W. Henderson, Blue Heron and Pizzazz, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 99:
Nemesis walked out […], his coal hair slicked back followed by a few red highlighted fibers, and his eyes large. “Hey, what are you doing up here?” Nemesis asked, leaning his right elbow on the rail. Skullcrusher couldn't meet his eyes, he just stared off at[…]2017 September 27, Jordan Raggio, Finance & Felony, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN:
He raked his fingers through his coal hair, sighing with frustration. He turned back to me. His fingers gently grazed my cheek." Look at me." At first, I resisted. I couldn't bear looking at his pity. After a moment, I slowly lifted my gaze to him.2023 May 31, Jo Wilde, The Angel Series Collection - Books 1-3, Next Chapter:
His coal hair was brushed up, revealing his nice skin even at his time of life. “Wait, are his eyes green?” Her fingers flew to her lips as she now recalled who he looks like. He resembled the man that she encountered in the parking lot[…](Can we date this quote?), AraBella, The CEO's Rebellious Woman, Singapore New Reading Technology Pte Ltd: