firedampn.
/ˈfʌɪədamp/, U.S. /ˈfaɪ(ə)rˌdæmp/ Flammable gas, esp. methane (marsh gas), given off by coal in mines and which can form an explosive mixture with air. Cf. damp n.1 1b.Formerly also in plural in same sense.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > gas > [noun] > fumes or vapour > explosive gas in mines
dampa1592
firedamp1662
fire1672
wildfire1672
fulminating damp1675
dirt1831
sulphur1851
stifle1886
the world > matter > chemistry > organic chemistry > organic gases > [noun] > carburetted hydrogen
firedamp1662
olefiant gas1797
1662 H. Oldenburg Corr. 208 Mine-damps..are there called Fire-damps, and Earth-damps.
1677 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 12 895 The Fire-damp did by little and little begin..to appear in crevisses and slits of the Cole.
1774 T. Pennant Tour Scotl. 1772 49 The..colliers dare not venture with a candle in spots where fire-damps are supposed to lurk.
1811 J. Farey Gen. View Agric. Derbyshire I. 261 Lime Geodes containing Petroleum, hades, Fire-damp.
1867 W. W. Smyth Treat. Coal & Coal-mining 200 The ingenious ‘fire-damp indicator’ of Mr. Ansell.
1938 R. Hum Chem. for Engin. Students xvi. 400 The size and appearance of the cap provide an indication of the amount of firedamp in the air.
1988 Daily Tel. 19 Jan. 16/7 At 5.45 a violent explosion of firedamp occurred.
2009 P. O. K. Krehl Hist. Shock Waves ii. 23/1 Deflagration..can occur when the ignition of a mixture of air and firedamp (essentially methane) cannot fully develop into an explosion.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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