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shovelful

[ shuhv-uh l-foo l ]

/ ˈʃʌv əlˌfʊl /

|

noun, plural shov·el·fuls.

the amount held by a shovel.

Nearby words

Origin of shovelful

First recorded in 1525–35; shovel + -ful

Usage note

See -ful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for shovelful

It is remarkable how completely this shovelful of earth or ashes destroys all disagreeable smell.
Health on the Farm|H. F. Harris
Apples and oranges were put upon the table and a shovelful of chestnuts on the fire.
A Budget of Christmas Tales by Charles Dickens and Others|Various
A strict examination is made of every shovelful, in order that impurities may be eliminated.
The Strand Magazine, Volume XVII, February 1899, No. 98.|Various
He could see that the gravel was full of gold, and every shovelful he threw out sparkled with the golden ore.
If Any Man Sin|H. A. Cody

When the floor needed patching, Jamie went to somebody's garden, brought a shovelful of earth, mixed it and filled the holes.
My Lady of the Chimney Corner|Alexander Irvine

Word Origin and History for shovelful

shovelful

n.

1530s, from shovel (n.) + -ful.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper