shoal

¹

[ shohl ]

noun

1. a place where a sea, river, or other body of water is shallow:

   The clams and mussels gathered from these shoals are the best you’ll ever find.

   Synonyms: ford, shallow(s)

2. a sandbank or sandbar in the bed of a body of water, especially one that is exposed above the surface of the water at low tide.

   Synonyms: reef

adjective

1. of little depth, as water; shallow:

   The first thing these newcomers do is buy a boat and promptly get stuck in the shoal waters, which they know nothing about.

verb (used without object)

1. to become shallow or more shallow:

   The river significantly shoals between the old stone bridge and the bend at Tuttle’s Crossing.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to become shallow:

   Shoaling the approach has effectively kept the larger vessels out of our small harbor.

2. Nautical. to sail so as to lessen the depth of (the water under a vessel).

shoal

²

[ shohl ]

noun

1. any large number of persons or things.
2. a school of fish:

   a shoal of herring;

   a shoal of mackerel.

verb (used without object)

1. to collect in a shoal; throng.

shoal

¹

/ ʃəʊl /

noun

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

verb

1. intr to collect together in such a group

shoal

²

/ ʃəʊl /

noun

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

verb

1. to make or become shallow
2. intr nautical to sail into shallower water

adjective

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

shoal

/ shōl /

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

Derived Forms

• ˈshoaliness, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shoal¹

First recorded before 900; (for the adjective) Middle English shold(e), Old English sceald shallow; noun and verb derivative of the adjective

Origin of shoal²

First recorded in 1570–80; earlier shole, probably from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German schōle, with sound-substitution of sh- for Low German skh-; school ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of shoal¹

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

Origin of shoal²

Old English sceald shallow

Example Sentences

Following the latest clash, China's coast guard called on the Philippines to withdraw from the Sabina Shoal while pledging to "resolutely thwart all acts of provocation, nuisance and infringement".

From BBC

Last month they agreed to allow the Philippines to restock the outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal with food, supplies and personnel.

From BBC

The Sabina Shoal, claimed by China as Xianbin Jiao and as Escoda Shoal by the Philippines, is located some 75 nautical miles from the Philippines' west coast and 630 nautical miles from China.

From BBC

Saturday's collision near the Sabina Shoal is the latest in a long-running - and escalating - row between the two countries over various islands and zones in the South China Sea.

From BBC

But last week, things came to a head when Beijing and Manila's vessels collided near the Sabina Shoal- both accusing the other of ramming them on purpose.

From BBC

Related Words

• reef