coal oil
Americannoun
-
petroleum obtained by the destructive distillation of bituminous coal.
noun
-
petroleum or a refined product from petroleum, esp kerosene
-
a crude oil produced, together with coal gas, during the distillation of bituminous coal
Etymology
Origin of coal oil
An Americanism dating back to 1855–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Right after supper, while Papa was putting some coal oil in the lantern, I went to the tool shed and got a pick and shovel.
From Literature
Quinton’s great-uncle Norman T. Brown, a school bus driver, also ran the town’s general store, where he peddled everything from coal oil to wheels of cheese, often extending credit.
From Washington Post
Over 1,000 people showed up on a drizzly night to cheer as firefighters doused buildings with coal oil and set them ablaze.
From Los Angeles Times
A third cousin of Papa’s, Hopewell Stump, from out in Banks County, clerked and took care of the chickens that folks brought to trade out for nails, flour, sugar, coal oil, coffee, and chewing tobacco.
From Literature
The injury count from Fukushima, and Chernobyl is minute compared to the fallout from coal oil and gas impacts.
From New York Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
