Shingle

(shĭng/gl), n. [O. Eng. shingle and shindle, N. H. Ger. schindel, O. H. Ger. scindala, scintilla, Lat. scindula, scandula, fr. scindere, to split; O. Fr. escandole, N. Fr. échandole, It. scandola.]

1Sense 1. A piece of wood sawed or rived thin and small, with one end thinner than the other, in order to lap lengthwise, used in covering buildings, especially the roof.

I reached St. Asaph, . . . where there is a very poor cathedral church covered with shingles or tiles. Ray.

2Sense 2. (Geol.) Round, water-worn, and loose gravel and pebbles, or a collection of roundish stones, on shores and coasts.

The plain of La Crau, in France, is composed of shingle. Pinkerton.

Shingle-ballast, ballast composed of gravel.

[imp. & p. p. SHINGLED; p. pr. & vb. n. SHINGLING.] 1. To cover with shingles; as, to shingle a roof. They shingle their houses with it. Evelyn. 2. To cut, as hair, so that one portion overlaps another, like shingles.

To squeeze or hammer, as iron, after it has been through the puddling furnace; in order to make it into blooms, and expel impurities.