simple past tense and past participle of rake over the coals

A black, viscous tar made by the destructive distillation of coal (to make coke and town gas); it contains a great number of compounds including hydrocarbons and phenols; used in the preparation of medicated soap and shampoo, and industrially for the manufacture of very many products.

Of an intensely black colour, like that of coal.

A black colour, like that of coal; charcoal.

(petrochemistry) The poisonous gas, used domestically for cooking etc and formerly for lighting, prepared by heating coal with steam; it is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide; synthesis gas or town gas.

(geology) A coal seam.

(geology) A stratum of coal between strata of other rocks.

A nodule of plant material permeated with minerals found mostly in bituminous and anthracite coal seams

One of the smallest birds of the tit family Paridae, Periparus ater, with a black cap, white nape patch and greyish body with buff underparts.

(simile) Completely black.