Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Shoal?

\Shoal\, n. [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.] 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}.] To assemble in a multitude; to throng; as, the fishes shoaled about the place. --Chapman.
\Shoal\, a. [Cf. {Shallow}; or cf. G. scholle a clod, glebe, OHG. scollo, scolla, prob. akin to E. shoal a multitude.] 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. To become shallow; as, the color of the water shows where it shoals.
\Shoal\, v. t. 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.