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
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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.
Colombia and the European Union and around 80 countries tried to find some language that would signal a stronger step away from coal, oil and gas.
From BBC • Nov. 22, 2025
Because it traps ancient air bubbles, ice is the only climatic archive of the atmosphere of the past and thus of greenhouse gas concentrations before the industrial burning of coal, oil and gas.
From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025
Scientists have found air pollution from coal, oil and gas combustion kills millions of people around the world every year, in large part by exacerbating heart disease.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2025
Carbon dioxide, released when humans burn coal, oil and gas, is called a greenhouse gas because it traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to climate warming.
From Science Daily • Nov. 26, 2024
The bird’s black plumage shone like coal oil in the torchlight.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
