coal-black 
There ho was snosv-white tofore, 
Ever afterward coleblack therfore 
He has transformed. 
Gnirer, Oonf. Ainallt., I. 306. 
II. . A deep black like that of charcoal ; or 
a deep, shining black with a slight bluish tinge, 
like that of anthracite coal. 
coal-box (kol'boks), n. A box for holding coal. 
coal-brand (kol'brand), . A name for the 
smut of wheat, Ustilago segetum. [Prov. Eng.] 
coal-brass (kol'bras), . A name given to the 
iron pyrites found in the coal-measures, which 
is employed in the manufacture of copperas, 
and also in alkali-works for the sulphur it con- 
tains. Commonly used in the plural. 
coal-breaker (kof'bva'ker), n. 1. One engaged 
in breaking into convenient size the larger 
masses of coal as they come from the mine, or 
in attending upon a machine used for that pur- 
pose. 2. A machine for breaking coal ; by ex- 
tension, the whole structure orbuilding in which 
the various processes of breaking, sorting, and 
cleaning coal are carried on. Such structures are 
placed at the entrances of mines, and are often of great 
extent. The coal is delivered at the top to the breakers 
proper, and passes downward through the works to the 
bins or to the coal-chutes, where it is discharged into the 
ears that enter the lower part of the structure. Coal- 
breakers were first used in the Pennsylvania anthracite 
region in 1843. 
coal-bunker (k6rbung"ker), n. A place for 
storing coal for use; specifically, in steamships, 
the place where coal for the furnace is stored. 
coal-car (kol'kar), n. A freight-car designed 
especially for carrying coal, sometimes made 
of iron, with a drop-bottom. 
coal-carrier (kol'kar"i-er), n. A person em- 
ployed in carrying coal. 
coalcarrierlyt (kol'kar"i-er-li), a. [< coal-car- 
rier + -ly 1 .] Like a coal-carrier. 
Peter Plod-all. . . . that coalcarrierly clown. 
Wily Beguiled (Hazlitfs Dodsley). 
coal-chute (kol'shot), . A trough or spout 
down which coal slides from a bin or pocket to 
a locomotive tender, or to vessels, carts, or cars. 
coal-drop (kol'drop), . A broad, shallow in- 
clined trough down which coal is discharged 
from a wharf into the hold of a vessel. 
coal-dust (kol'dust), n. The dust of coal ; pow- 
dered coal. 
It has been attempted ... to make the coal-dust into 
bricks. Amted, Hungary, p. 194. 
coaleryt (kd'ler-i), n. [< coal + -try. Cf. col- 
liery.'] A colliery. Woodward. 
coalesce (ko-a-les'), v. i.l pret. and pp. coa- 
lesced, ppr. coalescing. [< L. coalescere, grow to- 
gether, < co-, together, -I- alescere, grow up, < 
alere, nourish: see aliment.] 1. To grow to- 
gether ; unite by growth into one body. 
In the humeriu of the Manati the bicipital groove is ob- 
solete, the two tuberosities coalescing, as in the Cetacea. 
H'. //. Flower, Osteology, p. 200. 
The middle division of the body of Limulus exhibits 
markings which indicate that it is composed of, at fewest, 
six coalesced somites. Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 228. 
2. To combine or be collected or joined, so as 
to form one body. 
When they [vapours] begin to coalesce and constitute 
globules. Seirion. 
Hence 3. To come or join together; unite so 
as to form one party, community, or the like : 
as, political parties sometimes coalesce. 
The circumstances of the tenth century led the English 
kingdoms in Britain, naturally and necessarily, to coalesce 
in the shape of a consolidated kingdom. 
E. A. Freeman, Amer. Lects., p. 186. 
coalescence (ko-a-les'ens), n. [< coalescent: 
see -encc.] 1. The act of coalescing or unit- 
ing ; the state of being intimately joined. 
That he should not be aware of the future coalescence of 
these bodies into one. Glanville, Preexistence of Souls, ii. 
2. In lot., the organic union of similar parts. 
coalescency (ko-a-les'en-si), . [= coalescence : 
see -ency. ] Tendency to grow together or unite. 
Up. Gauden. 
coalescent (ko-a-les'ent), a. and n. [< L. coa- 
leseen(t-)s, ppr. of coalescere, grow together: 
see coalesce.'] I. a. Growing together; unit- 
ing so as to form one body: in hot., properly 
applied to the organic cohesion of similar parts. 
H. n. One who or that which coalesces. Athe- 
iiceum. 
coal-exchange (kol'eks-chanj"), n. A market 
for the sale of coal; specifically, a place for 
transactions in coal on a large scale. 
coal-field (kol'feld), . In geol., a general name 
for any area over which coal occurs somewhat 
connectedly and in some quantity, and where 
coal is or may be worked to such an extent as 
to be of economical importance. One coal-fleld is 
1068 
separated from another 1 
There are 38 di; 
n another by an intervening barren aron. 
listinct coal-nelds in Great Britain and Ire- 
land. 
coalfish (kol'fish), n. [=G. kohlfiscli .] A gadoid 
fish, I'ollacliins vireim or coroonarfut, named 
from the color of its back, it grows to the length 
of 2 or 3 feet, and weighs from 10 to 30 pounds. It is found 
Coalfish, or Pollock (Poltachins virtnt). 
lii great numbers about the Orkney islands and the north- 
ern parts of Great Britain. The fish and its fry are known 
by a great variety of local names. In the United States 
generally called pollock. 
coal-fitter (kol'fif'er), n. See fitter''-, 5. 
coal-gas (kol'gas), n. 1 . The gas which is given 
out by burning coal. 2. A mixture of gases 
and vapors, chiefly combustible, which is em- 
ployed to produce the gas-light in common use. 
It is obtained by heating bituminous coal in closed iron 
vessels without access of air, and removing as completely 
as possible from the vapors thus formed all incombustible 
and sulphurous gases. The following is an average analy- 
sis of ordinary coal-gas : hydrogen, 45.58 per cent. ; marsh- 
gas, 34.90; carbonic oxid, 6.64; oleflant gas, 4.08; tetry- 
lene, 2.38; sulphureted hydrogen, 0.29; nitrogen, 2.40; 
carbonic acid, 3.67. It also contains traces of ammonia, 
carbon disulphid, cyanogen, and oxygen. Coal-gas 
charcoal. Same as gat-carbon (which see, under carbon). 
COal-gOOSe (kol'gos), n. A local British name 
for the cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo, from 
its color. 
COal-heayer (kol'he'ver), . One employed in 
the moving or shoveling of coal, in loading or 
discharging coal-ships, in shoveling coal from 
the coal-bunkers of a steam-vessel to the fur- 
naces, etc. ; a coal-passer. 
coal-hod (kol'hod), n. A hod for carrying coal 
and putting it on the fire. 
coal-hole (kol'hol), n. 1. A trap in the side- 
walk for the reception of coal to be stored in 
a cellar beneath. 2. A coal-cellar. [Eng.] 
3. Naut., that part of a ship's hold lying near 
to the after-magazine containing coal, wood, 
etc. [Eng.] 
coal-hood, coaly-hood (kol'hud, -i-hud), . [So 
called from their black crown.] 1. The bull- 
finch. 2. The coal-tit. 
coal-hoodie (kdrhud"i), n. 1. Same as coal- 
hood. 2. A name of the black-headed bunt- 
ing, Emberiza schcenicla, 
coal-hulk (kol'hulk), n. A vessel kept, usual- 
ly at foreign stations, for supplying steamers 
with coal. 
coalier, . See collier^. 
coaling (ko'ling), n. [Verbal n. of coal, r.] 
The process of supplying or taking in coal for 
use : as, the coaling of a steamer or locomotive ; 
a floaHwp-station or coa?iHjr-wharf. 
coalised. p. a. See coalized. 
coalite (ko'a-llt), a. [< L. coalitus, pp. : see the 
verb.] United or coalesced: applied specifi- 
cally, in eiitom., to parts structurally or usually 
separated when they are closely united without 
a dividing incisure or suture, as the scutellum 
when it is connate with the pronotum, or the 
prolegs of a caterpillar when those of a pair are 
united, only the ends being sometimes distinct. 
Coalite abdomen, one in which the segments are 
united without sutures, as in a spider. Coalite all- 
trunk, the mesothorax and metathorax when they ap- 
parently form a single ring, the sterna being united, as in 
many Hemipte.ro. Coalite body, a body in which the 
head, thorax, and abdomen are all closely united, as in 
the mites. 
coalitet (ko'a-llt), v. [< L. coalitus, pp. of coa- 
lescere: see coalesce.'] I. intrans. To unite or 
coalesce. 
Let them continue to coalite. Bolingbrokc, Parties, xix. 
II. trans. To cause to unite or coalesce. 
Time has . . . blended and coalifed the conquered with 
the conquerors. Burke, To Sir H. Langrishe. 
coalition (ko-a-lish'on), n. [= F. coalition = 
Sp. coalicion = Pg.'eoaliqtfo = It. coalizione, < 
ML. coalitio(n-), < L. coalescere, pp. coalitus, co- 
alesce: see coalesce and coalite.'} 1. Union in 
a body or mass ; a coming together, as of sep- 
arate bodies or parts, and their union through 
natural causes in one mass or whole : as, a co- 
alition of atoms or particles. 
Tis necessary that these squandered atoms should con- 
vene and unite into great masses ; without such a coali- 
tion the chaos must have reigned to all eternity. Bentley. 
2. Voluntary union of individual persons, par- 
ties, or states ; particularly, a temporary com- 
coal-plant 
bining of parties or factions for the attainment 
of a special end ; alliance. Among the most fa- 
mous coalitions of history were those formed at different 
times by other European powers against France during 
the wars succeeding the first French revolution. 
They [the Jews] can never reduce themselves to such a 
Coalition and Unity as may make a Republic, Principality, 
or Kingdom. lliuivll, Letters, I. vi. 14. 
Because Lord Shelburne had gained the king's ear, . . . 
the latter formed a coalition with Lord North, whose per- 
son and whose policy he had spent his whole life in decry- 
ing. Brougham, Fox. 
The coalition had, in the course of the year, lost one 
valuable member and gained another. 
Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xvi. 
= Syn. 2. Alliance, League. Confederacy, etc. (see alli- 
ance), combination, copartnership, 
coalitioner (ko-a-lish'on-er), n. [< coalition + 
-c/-l.] A coalitionist. [Bare.] 
coalitionist (ko-a-lish'on-ist), n. [< coalition 
+ -is<.] One who favors coalition, or who is a 
member of a coalition. 
A coalition of the Republicans and of the party of peace 
and order produced the Thiers Government, and then a 
change in the balance of the coalitionist n produced the 
Government of Marshal MacJtahon. 
S. Amos, Science of Politics, vi. 
coalized (k6'a-lizd),7). a. [< "coaliee, var. of co- 
alesce or coalite (see -ize), + -ed 2 .] Joined by 
or in a coalition ; allied. Also spelled coalised. 
[Rare.] 
Rash coalised kings. Carlyle. 
coallier, n. See collier^-. 
CO-ally (ko-a-li'), n. [< co- 1 + ally 1 , .] A joint 
ally : as, the subject of a co-ally. Kent. 
coalman (kol'man), n. ; pi. coalmen (-men). [Cf. 
coatftsli.'] The young coalfish. [Local, Eng.] 
coal-master (kormas"ter), ti. The owner or 
lessee of a coal-field who works it and disposes 
of its produce. [Eng.] 
coal-measures (k61'mezh"urz), . pi. In geol., 
that portion of the Carboniferous series in which 
beds of COal are found. The coal-measures are some- 
times several thousand feet in thickness, and consist, in 
addition to the coal itself, of many beds of clay, shale, and 
sandstone. See carboniferous. 
coal-meter (koVmS'tto). n. One appointed to 
superintend the measuring of coal. [Eng.] 
coal-mine (kormin), . A mine or pit from 
which coal is obtained. 
coal-miner (k61'ml"ner), . One who works in 
a coal-mine. 
coal-mining (kol ' mi " ning), a. Pertaining to 
mining for coal ; engaged in or connected with 
mining coal: as, the coal-tniniiig districts; the 
coal-mining interests. 
coal-mouse (kol'mous), n. ; pi. coal-mice or coal- 
mouses. [Also written cole-mouse ; < ME. colmosc, 
collemase, < AS. colmdse (= D. koolmees = 'M.HG. 
kolemeise, G. kolilmeise), coal-mouse, coal-tit, so 
called from its glossy black head and throat 
(cf. F. cluirbonnier = Sp. carbonero, coal-mouse, 
< L. carbo(n-), coal), < col, coal, + mdsc, ME. 
moxe (= MIX meese, D. mecs = MLG. mesc = 
OHG. meisa, MHG. G. weise = Dan. mejsc = 
Norw. m = Icel. dim. meisingr. >OF. masange, 
F. niemnge, Walloon masenge, Bouchi ntasinque, 
Picard masaingue, ML. masance, coal-mouse), 
the name of several small birds, now found only 
in two compounds, where it has been corrupted 
to -mouse, namely, coal-mouse and titmouse: see 
mote 1 . The plural, which is little used, follows 
that of titmouse (titmice) in conforming to the 
plural of mouse; but some writers avoid the 
corruption in the plural, and write coal-mouses.'] 
Same as coal-tit. 
coal-note (kol'not), n. A particular form of 
promissory note formerly in use in the port of 
London. 
coal-oil (kol'oil), n. Same as petroleum. 
coal-passer (korpas^er), n. One whose duty 
is to pass coal to the furnace of a steam-engine. 
coal-pipe (kol'pip), n. The cast of a tree formed 
in rock, usually in sandstone. Such casts, standing 
vertically, are not uncommon in some of the English coal- 
fields, and are a source of danger to the miner, as they are 
likely to fall as soon as the supporting rock is removed. 
coal-pit (kol 'pit), n. [< ME. (not found), < 
AS. colpytt, < col, coal, + pytt, pit : see pit'-.] 
1. A pit where coal is dug. 2. In the United 
States, a place where charcoal is made. 
coal-plant (kol'plant), . A more or less dis- 
tinctly preserved or fossilized relic of vegeta- 
tion found in connection with mineral coal, and 
regarded as representing, or as akin with, the 
vegetation of which the coal itself is composed. 
The vegetable remains which are in the best preservation 
and have been most studied occur chiefly in the strata 
between which the beds of coal are intercalated, and espe- 
cially in the under-day or chinch by which a large pro- 
portion of them are underlain. The shaly strata over- 
lying the coal are also very frequently found to be crowded 
