Origin of shoal
1before 900; (adj.) Middle English (Scots) shald, Old English sceald shallow; (noun and v.) derivative of the adj.
Definition for shoal (2 of 2)
shoal
2[ shohl ]
/ ʃoʊl /
noun
any large number of persons or things.
a school of fish.
verb (used without object)
to collect in a shoal; throng.
Origin of shoal
21570–80; earlier shole, probably < Middle Dutch, Middle Low German schōle, with sound-substitution of sh- for Low German skh-; cf. school2
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Examples from the Web for shoal
British Dictionary definitions for shoal (1 of 2)
shoal
1/ (ʃəʊl) /
noun
a stretch of shallow water
a sandbank or rocky area in a stretch of water, esp one that is visible at low water
verb
to make or become shallow
(intr) nautical to sail into shallower water
adjective Also: shoaly
a less common word for shallow
nautical (of the draught of a vessel) drawing little water
Derived Forms
shoaliness, nounWord Origin for shoal
Old English sceald shallow
British Dictionary definitions for shoal (2 of 2)
shoal
2/ (ʃəʊl) /
noun
a large group of certain aquatic animals, esp fish
a large group of people or things
verb
(intr) to collect together in such a group
Word Origin for shoal
Old English scolu; related to Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schōle school ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Science definitions for shoal
shoal
[ shōl ]
A submerged mound or ridge of sediment in a body of shallow water.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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