noun
Uncommon
collier
KO-leer
Collier (noun) means someone who mines or sells coal for a living. Example: “His grandfather worked as a collier in the Welsh valleys for forty years.”
noun
1
Someone who mines or sells coal for a living.
"His grandfather worked as a collier in the Welsh valleys for forty years."
2
A ship built to carry coal as cargo.
"The old collier ran aground off the coast while hauling coal to the capital."
"By 1830, more than two million tons of coal a year, principally from the North East, arrived in London by coastal collier, and that figure reached three million tons by the 1840s."
— Nigel Harris, St Pancras and King's Cross: 1947 (2021)
How to use collier
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA coal miner, or a ship used to transport coal.
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Word forms
- Plural
- colliers
Fill the gap
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His grandfather worked as a _____ in the Welsh valleys for forty years.
Etymology
From Middle English colier/colyer ("charcoal maker or seller"), from Old English col ("coal") plus the occupational suffix -ier.
Synonyms
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pitman
coal miner
Related words
Rhymes for collier
See all rhymes for collier →Frequently asked questions
What does “collier” mean?
The word “collier” means someone who mines or sells coal for a living. In plain terms, a coal miner, or a ship used to transport coal.
How do you pronounce “collier”?
“Collier” is pronounced KO-leer (/ˈkɑliɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “collier” in a sentence?
Here is “collier” used in a sentence: “His grandfather worked as a collier in the Welsh valleys for forty years.”
What part of speech is “collier”?
“Collier” is a noun.
Where does the word “collier” come from?
The word “collier” comes from Old English. From Middle English colier/colyer ("charcoal maker or seller"), from Old English col ("coal") plus the occupational suffix -ier.
Is “collier” a common word?
“Collier” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “collier” have?
“Collier” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone who mines or sells coal for a living.
