shoal

shoal
shoal
shoal1 [shōl]
n.
[via dial. < OE scolu, multitude, school of fish, akin to Du school < IE * skēl- < base * (s)kel-, to cut > SHIELD]
1. a large group; mass; crowd
2. a large school of fish
vi.
to come together in or move about as a shoal or school
shoal2 [shōl]
n.
[< earlier adj. shoal, shallow < ME scholde < OE sceald, shallow; akin to OE * scealw, SHALLOW]
1. a shallow place in a river, sea, etc.; a shallow
2. a sandbar or piece of rising ground forming a shallow place that is a danger to navigation, esp. one visible at low water
vi.
to become shallow
vt.
1. to make shallow
2. to sail into a shallow or shallower part of (water)
shoaly
adj.
SYN.- SHOAL2 applies to any place in a sea, river, etc. where the water is shallow and difficult to navigate; BANK2, in this connection, applies to a shallow place, formed by an elevated shelf of ground, that is deep enough to be safely navigated by lighter vessels; a REEF1 is a ridge of rock, coral, etc. lying at or very close to the surface of the sea, just offshore; BAR1 applies to a ridge of sand, etc. silted up across the mouth of a river or harbor and hindering navigation

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • Shoal — Shoal, n. [AS. scolu, sceolu, a company, multitude, crowd, akin to OS. skola; probably originally, a division, and akin to Icel. skilja to part, divide. See {Skill}, and cf. {School}. of fishes.] A great multitude assembled; a crowd; a throng;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shoal — Shoal, a. [Cf. {Shallow}; or cf. G. scholle a clod, glebe, OHG. scollo, scolla, prob. akin to E. shoal a multitude.] Having little depth; shallow; as, shoal water. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shoal — [ʃəul US ʃoul] n [Sense: 1; Origin: Old English scolu large group ] [Sense: 2; Date: 1300 1400; Origin: shoal not deep (11 20 centuries), from Old English sceald] 1.) a large group of fish swimming together = ↑school shoal of …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • shoal — n Shoal, bank, reef, bar can all mean a shallow place in a body of water. In ordinary use Shoal is applied to a shallow place, especially one that is difficult to navigate {dangerous shoals in uncharted waters} Bank, often as the plural banks, is …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Shoal — Shoal, n. 1. A place where the water of a sea, lake, river, pond, etc., is shallow; a shallow. [1913 Webster] The depth of your pond should be six feet; and on the sides some shoals for the fish to lay their span. Mortimer. [1913 Webster] Wolsey …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shoal — shoal; shoal·i·ness; shoal·ness; …   English syllables

  • Shoal — Shoal, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Shoaled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Shoaling}.] To assemble in a multitude; to throng; as, the fishes shoaled about the place. Chapman. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shoal — Shoal, v. i. To become shallow; as, the color of the water shows where it shoals. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shoal — Shoal, v. t. To cause to become more shallow; to come to a more shallow part of; as, a ship shoals her water by advancing into that which is less deep. Marryat. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shoal — Ⅰ. shoal [1] ► NOUN 1) a large number of fish swimming together. 2) informal, chiefly Brit. a large number of people. ► VERB ▪ (of fish) form shoals. ORIGIN probably from Dutch sch le troop …   English terms dictionary

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