Main Entry: ¹coal

Pronunciation: \ˈkōl\

Function: noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English col, from Old English; akin to Old High German & Old Norse kol burning ember, Middle Irish gúal coal

Date: before 12th century

1 : a piece of glowing carbon or charred wood : ember
2 : charcoal 1
3 a : a black or brownish-black solid combustible substance formed by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter without free access of air and under the influence of moisture and often increased pressure and temperature that is widely used as a natural fuel b plural British : pieces or a quantity of the fuel broken up for burning