anthracite
(ˈænθrəsaɪt)
[ad. L. anthracītes, a. Gr. ἀνθρακῑ́της coal-like, f. ἄνθρακ- (-αξ) coal.]
† 1. A stone described by Pliny, supposed to be hydrophane. Obs.
| 1601 Holland Pliny (1634) II. 617 There is found in Thesprotia a certaine minerall Rubie called Anthracitis, resembling coles of fire. 1750 Leonardus's Mirr. Stones 69 Antracites or Antracas, is a sparkling Stone of a fiery Colour. |
2. The non-bituminous variety of coal called also glance coal, blind coal, and stone coal.
| 1812 Sir H. Davy Chem. Philos. 313 The anthracite of Kilkenny..has all the characters of well burned charcoal. 1833 Lyell Princ. Geol. III. 373 In the vicinity of some trap dikes, coal is converted into anthracite. 1856 Bryant Rhode-Island Coal viii, Dark anthracite! that reddenest on my hearth. 1875 Ure Dict. Arts I. 192 The term Culm is applied generally to anthracite in our parliamentary annals. |
3. attrib., as anthracite coal, anthracite stove; anthracite basin, bed, in geology.
| 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. (1872) III. vii. iii. 253 Anthracite coal, difficult to kindle, but which no known thing will put out. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. I. 67 Anthracite coal..is almost pure carbon. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. ii. (1856) 21 Three anthracite stoves. 1858 Motley Dutch Rep. 1. 2 That picturesque anthracite basin where now stands the city of Namur. 1851 Dixon Penn xxi. (1872) 182 Inexhaustible fields of coal; and anthracite beds of the same fossil. |