shale

shale

noun \ˈshāl\

Definition of SHALE

: a fissile rock that is formed by the consolidation of clay, mud, or silt, has a finely stratified or laminated structure, and is composed of minerals essentially unaltered since deposition

— shal·ey also shaly \ˈshā-lē\ adjective

Origin of SHALE

probably from obsolete or dialect shale scale, shell, from Middle English, from Old English scealu — more at shell

First Known Use: 1747

Rhymes with SHALE

ail, ale, bail, bale, Bâle, brail, braille, Braille, dale, fail, flail, frail, Gael, gale, Gale, grail, hail, hale, jail, kale, mail, male, nail, pail, pale, quail, Quayle, rail, sail, sale, scale, snail, stale, swale, tael, tail, taille, tale, trail, vail, vale, veil, wail, wale, whale, Yale