▪ I. shoaling, vbl. n.1
(ˈʃəʊlɪŋ)
[f. shoal v.2 + -ing1.]
1. The process of becoming shallow or more shallow; an instance of this.
| 1633 T. James Voy. 30 The shoalding of the Western shoare. 1832 Lyell Princ. Geol. II. 276 The shoaling continued until the river water prevailed. 1886 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 Dec. 1/1 As the shipowner is precluded from delivering his cargo by a blockade or a sudden shoaling up of the port of discharge. |
2. concr. A place where the water becomes shallow.
| 1574 W. Bourne Regiment for Sea xxii. (1577) 61 Some sandes or daungers there be hauing fayre or good soundings or shaldings, that they may borrow of & on at their pleasure. 1644 H. Manwayring Sea-mans Dict. 94 When they say there is very good showleing, it is meant that the water doth grow shallower, by degrees, and not suddenly. 1689 Lond. Gaz. No. 2456/4 All the Sands, Shoalings, and Depths of Water, upon the said Coasts. 1887 Hall Caine Deemster xxvi. 167 The ground swell among the shoalings before the storm comes to shore. |
3. Sc. Spearing fish in shallow water.
| 1792 Statist. Acc. Scot. II. 15 This [sc. spearing fish] is also called shauling; as it is generally practised, when the tide is almost spent, and the waters turned shallow. |
▪ II. shoaling, vbl. n.2
see shoal v.3