Origin of shoal

1
before 900; (adj.) Middle English (Scots) shald, Old English sceald shallow; (noun and v.) derivative of the adj.

Words nearby shoal

shnorrer, sho, shoa, shoad, shoah, shoal, shoaly, shoat, shochet, shock, shock absorber

Definition for shoal (2 of 2)

shoal 2
[ shohl ]
/ ʃoʊl /

noun

any large number of persons or things.
a school of fish.

verb (used without object)

to collect in a shoal; throng.

Origin of shoal

2
1570–80; earlier shole, probably < Middle Dutch, Middle Low German schōle, with sound-substitution of sh- for Low German skh-; cf. school2

Words related to shoal

reef, bar, shallow, mass, bank, sandbank

Example sentences from the Web for shoal

British Dictionary definitions for shoal (1 of 2)

shoal 1
/ (ʃəʊl) /

noun

a stretch of shallow water
a sandbank or rocky area in a stretch of water, esp one that is visible at low water

verb

to make or become shallow
(intr) nautical to sail into shallower water

adjective Also: shoaly

a less common word for shallow
nautical (of the draught of a vessel) drawing little water

Derived forms of shoal

shoaliness, noun

Word Origin for shoal

Old English sceald shallow

British Dictionary definitions for shoal (2 of 2)

shoal 2
/ (ʃəʊl) /

noun

a large group of certain aquatic animals, esp fish
a large group of people or things

verb

(intr) to collect together in such a group

Word Origin for shoal

Old English scolu; related to Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schōle school ²

Scientific definitions for shoal

shoal
[ shōl ]

A submerged mound or ridge of sediment in a body of shallow water.