SHOALEST
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