SHOALER

Etymology

Noun

shoaler (plural shoalers)

A coasting vessel.

Source: Wiktionary

SHOAL

Shoal, n. Etym: [AS. scolu, sceolu, a company, multitude, crowd, akin to OS. skola; probably originally, a division, and akin to Icel. skilja to part, divide. See Skill, and cf. School. of fishes.]

Definition: A great multitude assembled; a crowd; a throng; -- said especially of fish; as, a shoal of bass. "Great shoals of people." Bacon. Beneath, a shoal of silver fishes glides. Waller.

Shoal, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shoaled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shoaling.]

Definition: To assemble in a multitude; to throng; as, the fishes shoaled about the place. Chapman.

Shoal, a. Etym: [Cf. Shallow; or cf. G. scholle a clod, glebe, OHG. scollo, scolla, prob. akin to E. shoal a multitude.]

Definition: Having little depth; shallow; as, shoal water.

Shoal, n.

1. A place where the water of a sea, lake, river, pond, etc., is shallow; a shallow. The depth of your pond should be six feet; and on the sides some shoals for the fish to lay their span. Mortimer. Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory, And sounded all the depths and shoals of honor. Shak.

2. A sandbank or bar which makes the water shoal. The god himself with ready trident stands, And opes the deep, and spreads the moving sands, Then heaves them off the shoals. Dryden.

Shoal, v. i.

Definition: To become shallow; as, the color of the water shows where it shoals.

Shoal, v. t.

Definition: To cause to become more shallow; to come to a more shallow part of; as, a ship shoals her water by advancing into that which is less deep. Marryat.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition