'coal-powered' originates from the combination of 'coal,' a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, and 'powered,' meaning supplied with energy.

'Coal' comes from Old English 'col,' meaning 'mineral of fossilized carbon,' and 'powered' is derived from the verb 'power,' which evolved from Middle English 'poweren.'

Initially, 'coal-powered' simply referred to any machinery or system that used coal as its primary energy source, and this meaning has remained consistent.