shale

(s̸hāl)

noun

a kind of fine-grained, thinly bedded sedimentary rock formed largely by the hardening of clay: it splits easily into thin layers

Origin: < ME, lit., shell < OE scealu, shell

See shale in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
A fissile rock composed of layers of claylike, fine-grained sediments.

Origin:

Origin: Probably from Middle English, shell

Origin: , from Old English scealu; see skel-1 in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • shalˈey adjective

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