| 释义 |
small coal
Also small-coal.
[small a. 4.]
1. Charcoal. Obs. exc. Hist.
1638Ford Fancies v. i, Your suds and pan of small-coal. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 88 Smal-coale is commonly known unto all, and for this use is made of Sallow, Willow, Alder, Hasell, and the like. 1705Lond. Gaz. No. 4094/3 The Bran and Smallcoal made at their Office on Tower-hill. 1728Chambers Cycl. s.v. Coal, An Artificial Fuel made..by half burning the Branches and Roots of Trees; properly call'd Charcoal, and Smallcoal.
2. Coal of small size; slack.
1665Dudley Mettall. Martis (1854) 8 Knowing that if there could be any use made of the Smal-coale.., then would they be drawn out of the Pits. 1677Phil. Trans. XII. 898 The Men..hid themselves as well as they could in the loose sleck or small Cole. 1755Johnson, Slack, small coal; coal broken in small parts. 1843Holtzapffel Turning I. 205 Small-coal is thrown..into the hollow fire to replace that which is burned. 1891Weekly Notes 136/2 The small coal was mainly produced by the friction of the blocks while being brought to the surface.
3. attrib., as small-coal man, small coal question, small coal trade, etc.
1673R. Head Canting Acad. 129 He lookt like a Small-Coal-man. 1715Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) V. 103 Thomas Britton..set up the Small-coal Trade. 1847Thackeray Curate's Walk Wks. 1900 VI. 552 The Curate was very deep in conversation with a small-coalman. 1898Daily News 6 May 2/7 At the same time there was a vehement dispute on the small coal question. |