coalheaver NOUN a coalheaver loaded coal onto ships using a spade Good, strong, wholesome medicine, as was given with great success to two Irish labourers and a coalheaver (Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens)

coal-whippers NOUN men who worked at docks using machines to load coal onto ships here, were colliers by the score and score, with the coal-whippers plunging off stages on deck (Great Expectations by Charles Dickens)

cobweb NOUN a cobweb is the net which a spider makes for catching insects the walls and ceilings were all hung round with cobwebs (Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift)

coddling VERB coddling means to treat someone too kindly or protect them too much and I’ve been coddling the fellow as if I’d been his grandmother (Little Women by Louisa May Alcott)

coil NOUN coil means noise or fuss or disturbance What a coil is there? (Doctor Faustus 4.7 by Christopher Marlowe)

collared VERB to collar something is a slang term which means to capture. In this sentence, it means he stole it [the money] he collared it (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain)

colling VERB colling is an old word which means to embrace and kiss and no clasping and colling at all (Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy)

colloquies NOUN colloquy is a formal conversation or dialogue Such colloquies have occupied many a pair of pale-faced weavers (Silas Marner by George Eliot)

comfit NOUN sugar-covered pieces of fruit or nut eaten as sweets and pulled out a box of comfits (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll)

coming out VERB when a girl came out in society it meant she was of marriageable age. In order to “come out” girls were expecting to attend balls and other parties during a season The younger girls formed hopes of coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have done (Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)

commit VERB commit means arrest or stop Commit the rascals (Doctor Faustus 4.7 by Christopher Marlowe)

commodious ADJ commodious means convenient the most commodious and effectual ways (Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift)

commons NOUN commons is an old term meaning food shared with others his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons. (Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens)

complacency NOUN here complacency means a desire to please others. To-day complacency means feeling pleased with oneself without good reason. Twas thy power that raised the first complacency in me (The Prelude by William Wordsworth)

complaisance NOUN complaisance was eagerness to please we cannot wonder at his complaisance (Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)

complaisant ADJ complaisant means polite extremely cheerful and complaisant to their guest (Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift)

conning VERB conning means learning by heart Or conning more (The Prelude by William Wordsworth)

consequent NOUN consequence as avarice is the necessary consequent of old age (Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift)