Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ



May 28, 2013
This week's theme
What a difference a letter makes

This week's words
palatine
collier
lares and penates
hyperbolic
debark

This week's contest
Thanks for all the word pairs with a one-letter difference. The contest, though, is about a pair of definitions for a word. The two definitions are to differ by one letter as in this week's words.
Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

collier

PRONUNCIATION:
(KOL-yuhr)

MEANING:
noun:
1. A coal miner.
2. A coal liner.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Old English col (coal). Earliest documented use: 1594, 1661.

USAGE:
"Gunar turned to find a grimy-faced man, black as a collier."
Lisa Hendrix; Immortal Champion; Berkley; 2011.

"When the collier Marlin sailed into Hampton Roads on Jan 14, it didn't arrive like most coal ships do -- empty."
Gregory Richards; Area Getting Two Facilities for Incoming Coal; The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk); Feb 1, 2007.

See more usage examples of collier in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve. -Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, musician, Nobel laureate (1875-1965)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith