'coaliferous' originates from Modern English coinage, specifically from 'coal' + the Latin-derived suffix '-iferous', where '-iferous' (from Latin 'ferre') meant 'bearing'.

'coal' comes from Old English 'col' meaning 'coal', while the suffix '-iferous' comes via New/Medieval Latin from Latin 'ferre' ('to bear'); these elements were combined in scientific English (19th century coinages) to form 'coaliferous'.

Initially it meant simply 'coal' + 'bearing' (i.e., 'bearing or containing coal'), and over time this sense has remained the primary meaning in modern usage.