Cōal1, n.
n. [A-S. col or coll, O. H. Ger. chol, cholo, M. H. Ger. kol, N. H. Ger. kohle, D. kool, Sw. kol, Dan. kul, L. Ger. kaal, akin to Lat. calere, to be hot, to glow.]
- A completely charred, and extinguished or still ignited, fragment from burning wood; the substance made from wood by a smothered fire; charcoal.
- (Min.) A black, or brownish black, solid, combustible substance, consisting, like charcoal, mainly of carbon, but more compact, and often containing a large proportion of bitumen.
Anthracite, or glance coal, that containing little or no bitumen, and therefore burning with very little flame. — Bituminous coal, that containing from ten to fifty per cent. of bitumen. — Brown coal, or lignite, that variety which has something of the woody texture apparent, and an empyreumatic odor; any coal of later formation than that of the true coal era. — Cannel coal, a very compact bituminous coal, of fine texture and dull luster. Dana.
A live coal, or coal of fire, a coal still burning.—To carry coals, to submit to degradation or insult.—To carry coals to Newcastle, to do something superfluous or unnecessary; to lose one's labor.—To haul over the coals, to scold, or call to account.