'coal-fired' originates from English, specifically the words 'coal' and 'fired', where 'coal' originates from Old English 'col' meaning 'coal' and 'fired' is the past participle form of 'fire' from Old English 'fȳr' meaning 'fire'.

'coal' changed from Old English 'col' and developed into the Middle English form 'cole' and eventually modern English 'coal'; 'fire' comes from Old English 'fȳr' and formed the past participle 'fired'; these elements were combined in modern English to form the compound 'coal-fired'.

Initially it described something subjected to the action of fire involving coal or using coal as fuel; over time it came to specifically mean 'powered or heated by burning coal'.