white damp

American  

noun

1. a poisonous coal-mine gas composed chiefly of carbon monoxide.

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Etymology

Origin of white damp

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

On the white, damp wall of the Yahidne school basement is a crude calendar, drawn in red crayon.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2022

In a well-ventilated mine, however, where high explosive is used and handled by experienced men, there's not likely to be much danger from white damp.

From The Boy With the U.S. Miners by Rolt-Wheeler, Francis

Haven't you got sense enough to see what would happen as soon as you drove a hole through big enough to let the white damp in and not big enough to get the men out?

From The Boy With the U.S. Miners by Rolt-Wheeler, Francis

Carbon monoxide was pouring out, the deadly white damp, that kills as it strikes!

From The Boy With the U.S. Miners by Rolt-Wheeler, Francis

The proportion of white damp, or carbon monoxide, in the air where the rescuers had now been compelled to work in respirators, was strong enough to kill a man in ten or fifteen minutes.

From The Boy With the U.S. Miners by Rolt-Wheeler, Francis