noun
briquette
brih-KET/brɪˈket/
A small compressed block of fuel or other material.
Several compressed charcoal briquettes lie beside the unlit grill.
Etymology
Brique with the diminutive ending gives “small brick.” The name describes fuel pressed into a compact block, especially coal dust held together with pitch.
In context
Zwoyer had already patented the charcoal briquette in 1897. A compressed block of charcoal and binder, designed to burn more evenly and longer than raw wood.
More examples
- She arranged the briquettes in a mound before lighting them.
- The factory compresses sawdust into fuel briquettes.
- One damp briquette crumbled when he picked it up.
Forms
briquette · briquettes
Similar words
- pellet
- Usually a smaller compressed piece, often cylindrical.