What does gasholder mean?
A gasholder is a large metal vessel or structure in which gas is stored, usually at low pressure. Its best-known historical use was to hold manufactured town gas: gas produced from coal was distributed through city mains, while gasholders provided reserves and helped maintain steady pressure as demand varied. These structures often became prominent parts of the urban landscape, with some surviving long after their original gasworks closed. The term is chiefly associated with British industrial and historical usage, although it also occurs in American accounts of early urban gas lighting. In British technical contexts, “gasholder” and “gasometer” are often synonymous, with the latter sounding more specialized. Today the word evokes Victorian engineering, municipal gasworks, and the conspicuous cylindrical or telescopic vessels that once stood across many towns and cities. Preserved examples have also become distinctive cultural landmarks.
nounA large vessel or structure used for storing gas, especially the manufactured town gas supplied to cities and towns in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
- A large vessel or structure for storing gas, particularly manufactured town gas.
"The old gasholder remains a landmark beside the former gasworks."
"Engineers inspected the gasholder before the storage facility was converted into public art."
"A surviving gasholder is being preserved as part of the town's industrial heritage."
The usual plural, especially when referring to several storage vessels or historic installations.
"Several gasholders dominated the skyline of the former industrial district."
Before electric lights, many cities kept a giant metal gasholder that stored the gas lighting their streets.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of gasholder
Gasholder is an English compound formed in the 19th century from “gas” and “holder.” “Gas” was adopted into English in the 17th century from New Latin usage derived from the Greek word for Chaos, while “holder” comes from Old English and denotes a person or thing that holds or supports something. The compound initially referred to the apparatus used to store manufactured gas for town lighting, later becoming the standard name for the large vessels and supporting structures used in gasworks.
How gasholder is actually used
The word has a traditional industrial and historical register and is especially associated with urban town-gas systems. Many former installations have been preserved as landmarks or converted into cultural and entertainment spaces.
Easily confused with gasholder
A gasholder is the vessel or installation itself, while gasometer is a more technical or historical term for the same kind of gas-storage structure.