Sheiling, shēl′ing, n. Same as Shealing.
Shekel, shek′l, n. a Jewish weight (about half-an-ounce avoirdupois) and coin (about 2s. 6d. sterling): (pl.) money (slang). [Heb. from shāqal, to weigh.]
Shekinah, Shechinah, shē-kī′na, n. the Divine presence which rested like a cloud or visible light over the mercy-seat. [Heb.,—shākhan, to dwell.]
Sheldrake, shel′drāk, n. a genus of birds of the Duck family Anatidæ, having the hind-toe free:—fem. Shel′duck. [A.S. scyld, a shield, and drake.]
Shelf, shelf, n. a board fixed on a wall, &c., for laying things on: a flat layer of rock: a ledge: a shoal: a sandbank:—pl. Shelves (shelvz).—adj. Shelf′y.—Put, Lay, on the Shelf, to put aside from duty or service. [A.S. scylfe, a plank, Ice. skjálf, a bench.]
Shell, shel, n. a term applied to the hard outer covering or skeleton of many animals, to the internal skeleton of some invertebrates, and to the outer covering-of the eggs of various animals: any framework: the outer ear: a testaceous mollusc: any frail structure: a frail boat: a rough kind of coffin: an instrument of music: a bomb: a hollow projectile containing a bursting charge of gunpowder or other explosive ignited at the required instant by means of either time or percussion fuses: the thin coating of copper on an electrotype: an intermediate class in some schools.—v.t. to break off the shell: to remove the shell from: to take out of the shell: to throw shells or bombs upon, to bombard.—v.i. to fall off like a shell: to cast the shell.—ns. Shellac (she-lak′, shel′ak), Shell′-lac, lac prepared in thin plates for making varnish, &c.—v.t. to coat with shellac.—ns. Shell′-back, an old sailor, a barnacle; Shell′-bark, either of two North American hickories.—adj. Shelled, having a shell, testaceous.—ns. Shell′er, one who shells or husks; Shell′fish, a popular term for many aquatic animals not fishes, esp. oysters, clams and all molluscs, and crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters; Shell′-gun, a cannon used for throwing shells, esp. horizontally: Shell′-heap, a prehistoric accumulation of shells, &c., pointing back to a race that lived on shellfish; Shell′-ice, ice no longer supported by the water beneath; Shell′-jack′et, an undress military jacket; Shell′-lime, lime procured from the shells of shellfish by burning; Shell′-lime′stone, a limestone largely consisting of shells; Shell′-marl, a white earthy deposit, resulting from the accumulation of fragments of shells; Shell′-mound, a shell-heap; Shell′-or′nament, decoration in which any shell-form is prominent.—adj. Shell′proof, proof against, or able to resist, shells or bombs.—ns. Shell′-room, a magazine on board ship where shells are stored; Shell′-sand, sand consisting in great part of fragments of shells, and often containing a small proportion of organic matter, a very useful manure for clay soils, heavy loams, and newly-reclaimed bogs; Shell′work, work composed of or adorned with shells.—adj. Shell′y, consisting of a shell: testaceous.—Shell out, (slang), to hand over, as money. [A.S. scell, scyl; Dut. schel, Ice. skel.]
Shelta, shel′ta, n. a secret jargon of great antiquity spoken by Irish tinkers, beggars, and pipers.—Also Shelrū, Cainnt cheard, Gam cant, Bog-latin. [Shelrū, a perversion of the Irish béulra, language.]
Shelter, shel′tėr, n. that which shields or protects: a refuge: a retreat, a harbour: protection.—v.t. to cover or shield: to defend: to conceal.—v.i. to take shelter.—n. Shel′terer.—adjs. Shel′terless; Shel′tery, affording shelter. [Orig. sheltron—A.S. scyld-truma, shield-troop—scyld, shield, truma, troop—trum, firm.]
Shelty, Sheltie, shel′ti, n. a Shetland pony. [Perh. a dim. of Shetland pony.]
Shelve, shelv, v.t. to furnish with shelves: to place on a shelf; to put aside.—n. Shel′ving, the furnishing with shelves: the act of placing on a shelf: shelves or materials for shelves.