coal oil

[ kohl oil ]

noun

, Older U.S. Use and Canadian.

1. petroleum obtained by the destructive distillation of bituminous coal.
2. kerosene.

coal oil

noun

1. petroleum or a refined product from petroleum, esp kerosene
2. a crude oil produced, together with coal gas, during the distillation of bituminous coal

Word History and Origins

Origin of coal oil¹

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Example Sentences

Quinton’s great-uncle Norman T. Brown, a school bus driver, also ran the town’s general store, where he peddled everything from coal oil to wheels of cheese, often extending credit.

From Washington Post

Over 1,000 people showed up on a drizzly night to cheer as firefighters doused buildings with coal oil and set them ablaze.

From Los Angeles Times

Eyewitnesses said planes circled overhead dropping bombs of turpentine or coal oil while buildings were torched from the ground.

From BBC

A third cousin of Papa’s, Hopewell Stump, from out in Banks County, clerked and took care of the chickens that folks brought to trade out for nails, flour, sugar, coal oil, coffee, and chewing tobacco.

From Literature

The inmates were doused with coal oil and gasoline as a crude disinfectant, he said.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• crude
• oil
• petrol
• petroleum