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shoal1 definition

shoal (s̸hōl)

noun

  1. a large group; mass; crowd
  2. a large school of fish

Etymology: via dial. < OE scolu, multitude, school of fish, akin to Du school < IE *skēl- < base *(s)kel-, to cut > shield

intransitive verb

to come together in or move about as a shoal or school
shoal2 definition

shoal (s̸hōl)

noun

  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

Etymology: < earlier adj. shoal, shallow < ME scholde < OE sceald, shallow; akin to OE *scealw, shallow

intransitive verb

to become shallow

transitive verb

  1. to make shallow
  2. to sail into a shallow or shallower part of (water)

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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