shovel
pronunciation
How to pronounce shovel in British English:
UK [ˈʃʌvl]
How to pronounce shovel in American English:
US [ˈʃʌvl]
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- Noun:
- a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle
- the quantity a shovel can hold
- a fire iron consisting of a small shovel used to scoop coals or ashes in a fireplace
- a machine for excavating
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- Verb:
- dig with or as if with a shovel
Word Origin
- shovel (n.)
- Old English scofl, sceofol "shovel," related to scufan (see shove (v.)), from Proto-Germanic *skublo (cognates: Old Saxon skufla, Swedish skovel, Middle Low German schufle, Middle Dutch shuffel, Dutch schoffel, Old High German scuvala, German Schaufel). Shovel-ready, with reference to construction projects, is attested by 2006.
- shovel (v.)
- mid-15c., from shovel (n.). Related: Shoveled; shoveling. Compare German schaufeln, verb from noun.
Example
- 1. Throwing fish food with a shovel can get tiresome .
- 2. Papa would bring an old battered coal shovel and an old-fashioned ice chest with him .
- 3. One was coming , carrying a shovel .
- 4. Promised he would die with a shovel in his hand .
- 5. In the meantime , battle is joined with pick and shovel across the himalayas .