cannel coal

American  

[kan-l] / ˈkæn l /

noun

1. an oily, compact coal, burning readily and brightly.

---

cannel coal British  

/ ˈkænəl /

noun

1. a dull coal having a high volatile content and burning with a smoky luminous flame

---

Etymology

Origin of cannel coal

1530–40; cannel from candle (dial. form)

Example Sentences

A variety of bituminous coal, called cannel coal, is characterized by an unusually high percentage of volatile matter, which causes it to ignite easily.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)

Dr. Dee's "show-stone" was a bit of cannel coal.

From Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah — Volume 1 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

The young girls are fond of long hair, black as cannel coal, and streaming in a startling cataract to the hips.

From The Story of the Philippines and Our New Possessions, Including the Ladrones, Hawaii, Cuba and Porto Rico The Eldorado of the Orient by Halstead, Murat

No members of the Glasgow Committee were present when either the undisputed Late Celtic comb, or the inscribed, perforated, and disputed pieces of cannel coal were discovered. 

From The Clyde Mystery a Study in Forgeries and Folklore by Lang, Andrew

Try to ignite a piece of cannel coal by holding it in a Bunsen flame.

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Williams, Rufus Phillips