ˈcoal-box
a. A box for holding coal to replenish a fire; a coal-scuttle.
| 1729 Swift Direct. Servants, Housemaid, Leave a pail of dirty water, a coal-box..and such other unsightly things. 1851 Ord. & Regul. R. Engineers §19. 97 Cast Iron Coal Boxes have been approved by the Board in lieu of Wood. |
b. A low-velocity German shell emitting black smoke; a ‘Black Maria’. Army slang.
| 1914 Illustr. Lond. News 3 Oct. 489 One of the German siege-guns—nicknamed..‘coal-box’. 1914 Scotsman 13 Nov. 7/2 All you could hear was whizz, whizz! and then a deafening bang as a coal box would burst. 1916 ‘Boyd Cable’ Action Front 15 ‘Coal-box,’ said Courtenay hurriedly. ‘Come on. They're apt to drop some more about the same spot.’ 1919 [see Black Maria 2]. |