shingling

[ shing-gling ]

noun

1. the covering of a roof or wall with thin overlapping pieces of wood, slate, etc.
2. Also called imbrication. Geology. a sedimentary structure in which flat pebbles are uniformly tilted in the same direction.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shingling¹

First recorded in 1695–1705, for a literal sense; shingle ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Back east on Cape Cod, where once upon a time my shingling trade migrated, the occasional red cedar roof comes along in the wealthiest of ocean-view neighborhoods.

From Seattle Times

Top each with two thin slices of ham and the cucumbers, shingling the cucumbers neatly on top of each sandwich.

From Washington Post

That way, you don’t smear and upset the beautiful work you’ve just done neatly shingling out your fillings.

From New York Times

But although some of the details vary, the essential strategies are always the same: Start at the bottom and overlap each higher layer, just as when shingling a house.

From Washington Post

Still, I think it’s a thrill to know how to butcher a whole one properly, breaking down a 12-to-15-pounder without any shingling or chiseling, without losing the portion closest to the gills.

From New York Times

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