water, esp when flowing and providing a potential source of usable power
white coal in American English
water as a source of power
white coal in American English
noun
informal
water, as of a stream, used for power
Word origin
[1880–85]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Chief of Staff, automatism, highball, impressionism, jackpot
Examples of 'white coal' in a sentence
white coal
Dam building was fuelled by the promise of 'white coal' (hydro-electric power), reservoirs and flood-control, but its consequences were unpredictable and often counterproductive.