coal oil
Americannoun
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petroleum obtained by the destructive distillation of bituminous coal.
noun
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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.
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
Eyewitnesses said planes circled overhead dropping bombs of turpentine or coal oil while buildings were torched from the ground.
From BBC
The inmates were doused with coal oil and gasoline as a crude disinfectant, he said.
From Seattle Times
“We piled them up like they were logs, over two hundred, arms and legs sticking out. And we piled brush on top and poured coal oil on.”
From Literature
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.
