noun
- Plural of coalhole; openings or compartments in the ground or basement of a building through which coal is delivered for storage and heating.
Usage: chiefly British; historical; less common in modern usage due to shift away from coal heating
Examples
- The old townhouse had several coalholes along the street for easy delivery of fuel.
- Victorian buildings in London often featured decorative iron grates covering the coalholes.
- The basement coalholes were sealed up when the building switched to central heating.
- Pedestrians had to watch out for the coalholes in the pavement.
- The coalman would pour fuel directly into the coalholes during winter deliveries.