egg coal

American  

noun

1. anthracite in sizes ranging from 2.44 to 3.25 inches (6.2 to 8.3 centimeters), intermediate between broken coal and stove coal.

2. bituminous coal in sizes ranging from 1.5 to 4 inches (4 to 10 centimeters).

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Etymology

Origin of egg coal

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Example Sentences

The sizes known as stove and egg coal, which range from about 1-3/8 to 2-3/4 inches in diameter, are intended for a furnace and should not be used in the kitchen stove for cooking purposes.

From Woman's Institute Library of Cookery Volume 1: Essentials of Cookery; Cereals; Bread; Hot Breads by Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences

Presently, instead of a furnace full of fire, I had a furnace full of egg coal.

From The Comforts of Home by Bergengren, Ralph

The Arlington Coal Company, Old Colony Building, Chicago, Ill., write to the Red Rock Coal Company, Auburn, Ill., saying that they need several cars of egg coal per week throughout the year.

From Business English A Practice Book by Buhlig, Rose

We have egg coal, chestnut—" "I think I'll take egg coal.

From More Toasts by Mosher, Marion Dix

The Red Rock Coal Co. reply that they will offer egg coal for shipment at the rate of two cars per week throughout the year, at $1.15 per net ton, cars f.o.b. mines.

From Business English A Practice Book by Buhlig, Rose