pea coal

American  

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).

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Etymology

Origin of pea coal

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

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

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Time Magazine Archive

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg