shale
[ sheyl ]
/ ʃeɪl /
noun
a rock of fissile or laminated structure formed by the consolidation of clay or argillaceous material.
Origin of shale
1740–50; origin uncertain; compare obsolete
shale to split (said of stone), to shell, derivative of
shale shell, husk, Old English
scealu shell, husk; see
scale2
OTHER WORDS FROM shale
shale·like, shal·ey, adjectiveWords nearby shale
Example sentences from the Web for shale
British Dictionary definitions for shale
shale
/ (ʃeɪl) /
noun
a dark fine-grained laminated sedimentary rock formed by compression of successive layers of clay-rich sediment
Derived forms of shale
shaly, adjectiveWord Origin for shale
Old English
scealu
shell; compare German
Schalstein laminated limestone; see
scale
1,
scale ²
Scientific definitions for shale
shale
[ shāl ]
A fine-grained sedimentary rock consisting of compacted and hardened clay, silt, or mud. Shale forms in many distinct layers and splits easily into thin sheets or slabs. It varies in color from black or gray to brown or red.