Colliery: meaning, definitions and examples
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colliery
[ ˈkɒl.ə.ri ]
mining industry
A colliery is a place where coal is mined. It encompasses the entire coal mining operation, including the mine itself and the associated buildings and equipment. Collieries vary greatly in size and scope, from small, localized operations to large industrial sites. The term is often used in the context of historical mining practices, particularly in regions rich in coal deposits.
Synonyms
coal mine, mining site, pit
Examples of usage
- The colliery has been in operation since the early 1900s.
- Many miners lost their jobs when the local colliery closed.
- The colliery featured several underground tunnels.
- The old colliery will be transformed into a museum.
Translations
Translations of the word "colliery" in other languages:
🇵🇹 mina de carvão
🇮🇳 कोयला खदान
🇩🇪 Steinkohlenwerk
🇮🇩 tambang batubara
🇺🇦 вугледобувна шахта
🇵🇱 kopalnia węgla
🇯🇵 炭鉱
🇫🇷 charbonnage
🇪🇸 mina de carbón
🇹🇷 kömür ocağı
🇰🇷 석탄 광산
🇸🇦 منجم فحم
🇨🇿 uhlířská jáma
🇸🇰 doly na uhlie
🇨🇳 煤矿
🇸🇮 premogovnik
🇮🇸 kolanámur
🇰🇿 көмір шахтасы
🇬🇪 ნახშირის სამთო
🇦🇿 kömür mədəni
🇲🇽 mina de carbón
Word origin
The word 'colliery' originates from the late Middle English term 'colery', which is derived from 'coal' and the suffix '-ery', which denotes a place associated with a specific activity. Its first known use dates back to the 14th century. The term became more widely used during the coal boom of the Industrial Revolution when coal extraction became a significant industry in England and other parts of the world. Over the years, the term 'colliery' came to represent not just the mine itself, but the entire operation including the shaft, surface buildings, coal processing facilities, and the workers associated with them. The significance of collieries in the industrial landscape diminished in the late 20th century due to deindustrialization and the transition to renewable energy sources, but they remain a notable aspect of industrial heritage in many regions.