Meaning
The heavy old-time flat iron for pressing clothes — either a solid iron heated on the coals or stove, or a hollow one filled with live coals. You tested its heat with a wet finger or a scrap of cloth before pressing, kept a second one heating, and worked fast before it cooled. The coal iron pressed many a Sunday-best shirt and school uniform before electric irons arrived.
Examples
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Granny press di shirt wid di coal iron.
Grandma pressed the shirt with the coal iron.
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Heat di flat iron pon di coal pot.
Heat the flat iron on the coal stove.
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Di coal iron heavy inna yuh hand.
The coal iron is heavy in your hand.
Origin
From 'coal' (its heat source) + 'iron'; the pre-electric flat iron. See [[coal-pot]], [[wash-board]].
How it’s used
The heavy coal/stove-heated flat iron for pressing clothes. See [[coal-pot]], [[wash-board]].