cauldron bottom en · NOUN
Etymology
From cauldron + bottom, in reference to the shape and colour as seen from the perspective of someone in the coal mine. Compare Sicilian campanaru (literally “bell tower”) in sulfur mining.
Meanings
- (UK, obsolete, slang) A large, round mass in a coal seam that forms part of the roof of a coal mine passage (usually being a fossilized root or stump); considered a hazard due to being prone to falling without warning.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see cauldron, bottom.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| cauldron bottoms | Number=Plur | lexicographic |