Definition

A person who works in a coal mine or a ship that carries coal.

Example

The collier worked long hours underground to extract coal for the power plant.

Conversation

Did you know that my grandfather used to be a collier?

Really? That's interesting! What did he do exactly?

He worked in the mines, extracting coal for many years.

Wow, that must have been tough work for him.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Collier is derived from the Old French word *colier*, meaning a person who works with coal or a coal miner. The term is related to the word *coal*, which comes from the Old English *calu*, meaning charcoal or coal. Thus, a collier is someone associated with coal mining or the coal industry.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'collier' as a person who works with 'coal' — the Old French *colier* directly connects to coal mining.

Visually Confused Words