1. Plural of cannel; a type of bituminous coal that burns with a bright flame and is used for fuel and in the production of gas.
Usage: chiefly British; technical/geological

Examples

• The miners extracted cannels from the deep seams beneath the moorland.
• Cannels were prized in the 19th century for their ability to produce bright light when burned.
• The region's cannels deposits made it an important center for coal mining.
• Unlike ordinary coal, cannels ignite more readily and burn with a cleaner flame.