noun

1. Brit. a place where meat is sold; butcher's stall or shop: now only a local usage, esp. in street names
2. a slaughterhouse
3. a scene of great slaughter, bloodshed, or carnage
4. any scene or condition of great destruction or disorder rooms left a shambles by conventioneers

Etymology: ME schamel, bench, as for displaying meat for sale < OE scamol, bench or stool, akin to Ger schemel < early WGmc borrowing < L scamellum, dim. < scamnum, bench < IE base *skabh-, *skambh-, to prop up > Sans skámbhana-, a support