firedamp
Americannoun
-
a combustible gas consisting chiefly of methane, formed especially in coal mines, and dangerously explosive when mixed with certain proportions of atmospheric air.
-
the explosive mixture itself.
noun
Etymology
Origin of firedamp
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.
OKD will now switch to processing purchased coal and producing heat using firedamp -- methane gas produced by coal-mining.
From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026
The blast was believed to have been caused by firedamp, a term referring to methane in coal mines.
From Reuters ● Nov. 1, 2022
Authorities said Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion, with preliminary findings suggesting it was caused by firedamp, a term referring to methane forming an explosive mixture in coal mines.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2022
An early assessment indicated that the explosion was likely caused by firedamp, which is a reference to flammable gases found in coal mines, according to Energy Minister Fatih Durmaz.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 14, 2022
“Good lord, firedamp in a coal mine,” my father said.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
