Anthracite derives from the Greek anthrakítēs (ἀνθρακίτης), literally "coal-like".
The common term for Anthracite, where I was born and raised (former Yugoslavia), translates literally to "stone coal". In the place where I grew up, we mined mostly lignite. That "lignite" in thar's post reminded me of my youth, and I also realized that I had never learned the origin of the word.
lignite (n.)"imperfectly formed coal," 1808, from French, from Latin
lignum "wood" (see
ligni-). Brown coal that still shows traces of the wood it once was. Probably directly from
Lithanthrax Lignius, name given to woody coal by Swedish chemist Johan Gottschalk Wallerius (1709-1785) in 1775.
ligni-sometimes
ligno-, word-forming element used from late 19c. and meaning "wood," from Latin
lignum "wood (for fuel or construction), firewood," from PIE
*leg-no-, literally "that which is collected," from root
*leg- (1) "to collect, gather." Related: Lignify; lignification.
As remembrance of times past, here are two pictures.
The steam engine was once part of technological revolution. The one in the picture is not particularly environmentally friendly.
Interior of a2 class steam locomotive cabin with driver at controls and fireman shovelling coal into firebox
The origin of word "chauffeur" is related to the steam engine.
chauffeur (n.)1896, "a motorist," from French
chauffeur, literally "stoker," operator of a steam engine, French nickname for early motorists, from
chauffer "to heat," from Old French
chaufer "to heat, warm up; to become hot" (see
chafe). The first motor-cars were steam-driven. Sense of "professional or paid driver of a private motor car" is from 1902.
The '95 Duryea wagon, which won the Chicago contest last Fall, was exhibited at the Detroit Horse Show last week. Charles B. King, treasurer of the American Motor League, acted as "chauffeur," as the French say. ["The Horseless Age," April 1896]