English · Word Candidate

shale

/ʃeɪl/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: shales · shaling · shaled

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A shell, scale or husk; a cod or pod.

Noun

the green shales of a bean

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

A fine-grained sedimentary rock of a thin, laminated, and often friable, structure.

Noun

As on all large green roofs, the soil is not dirt exactly but a gravel-like growing medium of granulated pumice, shales, clays and other minerals.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

To take off the shell or coat of.

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “shale” mean?

A shell, scale or husk; a cod or pod.

Is “shale” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.