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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Shoal, v. i.
To become shallow; as, the color of the water shows where it shoals.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.