vbl. sb. [f. COAL v. + -ING1.]
† 1. Conversion into charcoal. Obs.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 21 a. Copswoods … imployed to coaling for blowing of Tynne.
1725. Brice’s Wkly. (Exeter) Jrnl., 25 Sept. A large Coppice, fit for Coaling or Faggot-Wood.
1770. Priestley, Charcoal, in Phil. Trans., LX. 212. All vegetable substances are considerably contracted in all their dimensions, by the process of coaling.
2. Taking in of coal (by a steam-ship, etc.).
1887. Athenæum, 14 May, 633/3. The necessity for frequent coaling.
3. Supplying with coal.
1888. Newspaper, Dec. The coal-porters will strike and stop the coaling of the gas stations…. The coaling of London.
4. attrib. and Comb., as coaling base, place, station, a port specially fitted out and used for supplying steam-ships with coal; also † coaling-money (see quot.).
1708. J. C., Compl. Collier (1845), 31. A Piece or Guinea, to Drink the good Success of the Colliery … is called their Coaling-Money.
1870. Echo, 9 Nov. The use of the roadstead as a coaling station is not very conspicuous.
1880. Charlotte M. Mason, Forty Shires, 10. Stockton … is a ship-building and coaling place.
1884. Ann. Reg., 261. The coaling stations on the road to Australia.
