[f. COAL sb. + -Y. Cf. COLLY.]
1. Abounding in coal; covered or charged with coal or coal-dust.
1592. Wyrley, Armorie, 104. Black colie smith.
1628. Milton, Vac. Exerc., 98. Of utmost Tweed … Or coaly Tyne, or ancient hallowed Dee.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., II. 187. The coaly … little steamboat.
1888. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Young Mistley, II. vi. 81–2. Around each pit was grouped its little coaly village.
2. Of the nature of coal; carbonaceous.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho. Divers New Exper., 33. A blacke and hard colie crust upon it.
1611. Cotgr., Charbonnesque, coalie, of coales.
1854. H. Miller, Footpr. Creat., x. (1874), 186. A mere coaly film.
1862. Dana, Man. Geol., 74. Coaly shale.—Containing coaly impressions or impregnations.
3. Of the color of coal; coal-black.
1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., II. (1593), 44. A colie colour.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 440. Vpon thy face let coaly Rauens swarme.
1849. Tait’s Mag., XVI. 217. The moveless coaly eye Rolls wild with ecstacy.
