[f. prec. sb.]
1. trans. To convert into charcoal; to char.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 12 b (J.). Buying the wood … fetching the same, when it is coaled.
1626. Bacon, Sylva (1677), § 775. Char-coal of Roots, being coaled into great pieces, last longer than ordinary Char-coal.
1746. G. Adams, Micrograph., xliii. (1747), 229. The Body to be charred or coaled may be put into a Crucible.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, I. 759. The earliest plan of coaling wood.
† 2. To write or delineate with charcoal. Obs.
1605. Camden, Rem., 17. A suter … did at length frame this distiche, and coled it on a wall. Ibid. (1637), 337. Whereat mervailing, he coled out these rymes upon the wall.
† 3. To bore or sink down to a (coal-seam). Obs. rare.
1708. J. C., Compl. Collier (1845), 31. Having happily Coaled this Noble Main-Coal. My Business of a Sinker is at an end.
4. To supply (a steam-ship, engine, fire, etc.) with coal for fuel.
1864. Daily Tel., 18 Oct., 5/3. All Captain Wood asked was permission to coal his vessel and two or three days’ time to do it in.
1875. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., v. (ed. 2), 146. Facilities for coaling a steamer.
5. intr. To take in a supply of coal.
1858. Merc. Mar. Mag., V. 274. There being at present no Harbour … where such a vessel can coal.
1884. Western Mail, 7 Oct., 3/3. The movement resembled that at … Port Said … when a mail steamer is coaling.
