1. One who carries coal; a coal-porter.
1854. Hull Improv. Act, 36. For licensing a sufficient number of … coal-carriers, coal-carts.
† 2. A low dependent; one who does the ‘dirty work’ in any affair. Cf. to carry coals. Obs.
1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., Epistle (1593), 2. Clawbacks and colecariers eeke, ought wiselie to beware of whome, too whome, and what they speake.
1567. Fenton, Trag. Disc., 70. Her maide Fynea, who earst had bene colecaryor in amarous affaires.
Hence Coal-carrierly a. nonce-wd., servile, low.
1606. Wily Beguiled, in Hazl., Dodsley, IX. 232. That puck-fist, that smudge-snout, that coal-carrierly clown.
