coal gas

noun

: gas made from coal: such as

a

: the mixture of gases thrown off by burning coal

b

: gas made by carbonizing bituminous coal in retorts and used for heating and lighting

Examples of coal gas in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Similar events elsewhere, whether the introduction and control of coal gas in the United Kingdom or constructing bridge barriers in Australia and New Zealand, show that reducing access to common lethal means of suicide also reduces suicide deaths. — Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 28 May 2024

Diesel shortages during World War II prompted Belgium to run its public buses on a combination of ammonia and coal gas. — IEEE Spectrum, 23 Feb. 2021

Up until the 1960s, the ovens and stoves in many British homes used coal gas, which was rich in dangerous carbon monoxide and was implicated in many deaths, accidental or intentional. — Dave Philipps, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2020

The ship had been extensively refitted, an operation that included swapping out its old engine for a new one that ran not on coal gas, but on gasoline. — John Kelly, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for coal gas

• alas
• amass
• bromegrass
• bypass
• crabgrass
• crevasse
• eelgrass
• eyeglass
• groundmass
• harass
• impasse
• jackass

Kids Definition

coal gas

noun

: gas from coal

especially : gas made from bituminous coal and used for heating and lighting