coal-scuttle
Definition
Noun: - A coal-scuttle is a container, typically made of metal or wood, used to hold a supply of coal for a domestic fireplace or stove. It is designed to be placed near the hearth for convenient refueling.
Usage Examples
- (A container for holding coal.)
- (A specific type of coal container.)
Advanced Usage
- "coal-scuttle bonnet": A historical women's bonnet shaped like a coal-scuttle, with a deep brim that frames the face.
- The Victorian lady wore a coal-scuttle bonnet to protect her complexion from the sun. (A bonnet resembling the shape of a coal container.)
Variants and Related Words
- Scuttle (n): a container for coal, often synonymous with coal-scuttle.
- He filled the scuttle with coal from the cellar. (A container for coal.)
- Coal (n): a black or dark-brown combustible mineral used as fuel.
- The coal was stored in the scuttle near the fireplace. (The fuel itself.)
Synonyms
- Coal bucket: a bucket used to carry coal.
- Coal hod: a similar container for coal, often with a handle and a spout for pouring.
Related Idioms
- "To be in the coal-scuttle": an old-fashioned expression meaning to be in a difficult or embarrassing situation (rarely used today).
- After forgetting his lines, the actor felt as if he were in the coal-scuttle. (In a predicament.)