pea coal

noun

1. anthracite coal in sizes ranging from about 3/8 to about 13/16 inch (1 to 2 centimeters).

2. bituminous coal in sizes ranging from about 3/8 to about 3/4 inch (1 to 1.9 centimeters).

Word History and Origins

Origin of pea coal¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Ate pea coal," replied the professor promptly, "and the tiniest babies ate buckwheat coal.

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Such fuel, some chestnut-sized, some no bigger than pea coal, and every now & then a nugget as big as a man's hand, has kept the carrousel spinning for 16 years.

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They shoveled and sifted their way through 150 tons of pea coal in basement bins.

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The largest or lump coal is that which remains upon a riddle having the bars 4 in. apart; the second, or steamboat coal, is above 3 in.; broken coal includes sizes above 2� or 2� in.; egg coal, pieces above 2� in. sq.; large stove coal, 1� in.; small stove, 1 to 1� or 11⁄3 in.; chestnut coal, 2⁄3 to � in.; pea coal, � in.; and buckwheat coal, 1⁄3 in.

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Experienced housekeepers say that it is good economy to have stoves with small gratings and then buy a good grade of pea coal, which, if carefully used, is cheaper and quite as economical as more expensive grades.

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