shoal

comparative shoaler · superlative shoalest · alternative dialectal sheld · alternative dialectal shole · alternative dialectal shoald · alternative dialectal shold · alternative Scotland shaul · alternative Scotland shawl · alternative Scotland shauld · alternative Scotland schald · alternative Scotland shaud · alternative Scotland shawd

1. archaicShallow.

   shoal water

   2 more examples

   But that part of the coast being shoal and bare, / And rough with reefs which ran out many a mile, / His port lay on the other side o' the isle.

   1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, III.19

   All told, we had scarce two miles to run; but the navigation was delicate, the entrance to this northern anchorage was not only narrow and shoal, but lay east and west, so that the schooner must be nicely handled to be got in.

   1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

plural shoals · alternative dialectal sheld · alternative dialectal shole · alternative dialectal shoald · alternative dialectal shold · alternative Scotland shaul · alternative Scotland shawl · alternative Scotland shauld · alternative Scotland schald · alternative Scotland shaud · alternative Scotland shawd

1. A sandbank or sandbar creating a shallow.

   The god himself with ready trident stands, / And opes the deep, and spreads the moving sands, / Then heaves them off the shoals.

   1697, Virgil, “Aeneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.

   1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC

   Synonyms: bank, bar, sandbar, sandbank

2. A shallow in a body of water.

   Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory, / And sounded all the depths and shoals of honour.

   1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]

   1 more example

   The depth of your pond should be six feet; and on the sides some shoals for the fish to sun themselves in and to lay their spawn.

   1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC

present singular third person shoals · participle present shoaling · participle past shoaled · past shoaled · alternative dialectal sheld · alternative dialectal shole · alternative dialectal shoald · alternative dialectal shold · alternative Scotland shaul · alternative Scotland shawl · alternative Scotland shauld · alternative Scotland schald · alternative Scotland shaud · alternative Scotland shawd

1. To arrive at a shallow (or less deep) area.
2. transitiveTo cause a shallowing; to come to a more shallow part of.

   Noting the rate at which she shoals her water -[…]

   1859, Matthew Fontaine Maury, Explanations and Sailing Directions to Accompany the Wind and Current Charts

3. To become shallow.

   The colour of the water shows where it shoals.

plural shoals

1. Any large number of persons or things.

   Shoals of tourists

   1 more example

   great shoals of people

   1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Vicissitude of Things”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC

2. collectiveA large number of fish (or other sea creatures) of the same species swimming together.

   c. 1661, Edmund Waller, On St. James's Park Beneath, a shoal of silver fishes glides.

   1 more example

   He came directly from the shoal which we had just before entered, and in which we had struck three of his companions, as if fired with revenge for their sufferings.

   1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick

present singular third person shoals · participle present shoaling · participle past shoaled · past shoaled

1. To collect in a shoal; to throng.

   The fish shoaled about the place.