coal, noun

Origin:
Afrikaans, EnglishShow more Influenced by Afrikaans kole wood embers. In general English this sense is unusual.
Usually in the plural : The glowing embers of a wood or charcoal fire.
1891 W. Selwyn Cape Carols 3Carbonaitje, The Colonial designation of a piece of mutton roasted on a forked stick or live coals, in the absence of the more civilized gridiron.
1891 H.J. Duckitt Hilda’s ‘Where Is It?’ p.ixAnyone who has travelled in South Africa will remember how good was the ‘Sasatie’ (Kabob) or ‘Carbonatje’ (Mutton Chop), steaming hot from the gridiron on wood coals, or two-pronged fork held against the coals.
1900 B.M. Hicks Cape as I Found It 170The coffee is the most delicious you ever tasted in your life — the roestekoeks, too, that have been roasting on the ‘coals’.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 124Coal, The word is commonly used in the Colony in the Bible sense; ‘having a live coal in his hand’, Is. vi. 6. A glowing wood cinder; a meaning which has become archaic in the English of the homeland.
1968 K. McMagh Dinner of Herbs 83The men made the fires that would die down to give the ‘coals’ on which to grill chops of mountain lamb, home-made sausages and skewered sasaaties.
1978 Darling 1 Feb.Come for a braai...Baste the chicken on the coals...Bake them directly on the hot coals...Put the fish on...over medium coals.
1980 Argus 28 Aug. 12Traditionally the pot-brood was made while people had a campfire going so that there was a stock of glowing coals on hand.
1982 Cape Times 8 Sept. 10Just then a party left, their fire-place still aglow with coals.
1991 Shell advertising pamphlet (Special Springtime ed.)Long-burning Camelthorn charcoal..gives you perfect coals for perfect steaks.
Usually in the plural :The glowing embers of a wood or charcoal fire.
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18911991
C.N.O., nounn.coat, nounn.
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