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coal car

American  

noun

  1. a railroad car designed to carry coal.

  2. a car for hauling coal in or from a mine.


Etymology

Origin of coal car

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.

In North China it is a 90% coal car, in France it is a 70% nuclear car, in Russia mostly a natural gas car and in Denmark a 50% wind car et cetera.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2022

When he was 18, Little Joe O'Brien rode an empty coal car into Nova Scotia to take a job as driver and trainer for a River Hebert horseman.

From Time Magazine Archive

One coal car rolled back down into the mine.

From Time Magazine Archive

The engineer does not stir, the tipsy fireman cannot hear above his clanking rake and the ' shattering roar of the coal car.

From Time Magazine Archive

Shin and two other boys lifted Moon into an empty coal car and pushed it to the top of the mine.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

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