shingle
UK[ˈʃɪŋɡl̩]US[ˈʃɪŋɡl̩]
n
A mass of small, smooth, rounded stones, especially on a beach.
n
A thin, flat tile of wood, slate, or other material, laid in overlapping rows to cover a roof or wall.
n
A small signboard, especially one used by a doctor or lawyer.
v
To cover a roof or wall with shingles.
Etymology
The word 'shingle' for roofing material and beach stones has a convoluted history, ultimately deriving from the Latin scindula, a variant of scandula, meaning 'a roofing tile.' This Latin term is related to the verb scindere, 'to split or cleave,' reflecting the process of creating thin, flat tiles from wood or stone. The word entered English via a Germanic intermediary, likely Old High German scindala or Old Norse sindr, which altered its form. The semantic connection between roof tiles and beach pebbles lies in their similar flat, overlapping nature when viewed in mass. The meaning of a professional signboard is a 19th-century American extension, likening the small board to a wooden shingle.
Analysis
The modern English word 'shingle' is a simplex form. Its spelling and pronunciation have been altered from its original form, making a meaningful segmentation into distinct, current-spelling morphemes impractical.
Examples
The cottage had a roof made of weathered cedar shingles.
We walked barefoot along the shingle, listening to the stones crunch under our feet.
After passing the bar exam, he hung out his shingle and started his own practice.