Defn: The tracing of veins of metal by shoads. [Written also shoding.] Pryce.
SHOAL Shoal, n. Etym: [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.]
Defn: 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.
SHOAL
Shoal, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shoaled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shoaling.]
Defn: To assemble in a multitude; to throng; as, the fishes shoaled about the place. Chapman.
SHOAL Shoal, a. Etym: [Cf. Shallow; or cf. G. scholle a clod, glebe, OHG. scollo, scolla, prob. akin to E. shoal a multitude.]
Defn: Having little depth; shallow; as, shoal water.
SHOAL
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.