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A layer of clay or decomposed rock along the wall of a vein. See Gouge, n., 4. Raymond.

Half crystalline; -- said of certain cruptive rocks composed partly of crystalline, partly of amorphous matter.

A mineral or rock consisting chiefly of the hydrous silicate of magnesia. It is usually of an obscure green color, often with a spotted or mottled appearance resembling a serpent's skin. Precious, or noble, serpentine is translucent and of a rich oil-green color.

Relating to, or like, serpentine; as, a rock serpentinous in character.

A fissure in rock or earth.

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

dimensions; misshapen; -- opposed to Ant: shapely. -- Shape"less*ness, n. The shapeless rock, or hanging precipice. Pope.

st, or part violently into fragments; to rend into splinters; as, an explosion shatters a rock or a bomb; too much steam shatters a boiler; an oak is shattered by lightning. A monarchy was shattered to pieces, and divided amongst revolted subjects. Locke.

monk, or other religious; -- used in contempt. I am no longer a shaveling than while my frock is on my back. Sir W. Scott.

eople of God, as being under the government and protection of Christ, the great Shepherd. Rocky mountain sheep.(Zoöl.) See Bighorn. -- Maned sheep. (Zoöl.) See Aoudad. -- Sheep bot (Zoöl.), the larva of the sheep botfly. See Estrus. -- Sheep dog (Zoöl.), a shepherd dog, or collie. -- Sheep laurel (Bot.), a small No…

A rounded knoll of rock resembling the back of a sheep. -- produced by glacial action. Called also roche moutonnée; -- usually in the plural.

A sand bank in the sea, or a rock, or ledge of rocks, rendering the water shallow, and dangerous to ships. On the tawny sands and shelves. Milton. On the secret shelves with fury cast. Dryden.

Full of strata of rock. [Obs.] The tillable fields are in some places . . . so shelfy that the corn hath much ado to fasten its root. Carew.

take to cover, or to a safe place; -- used reflexively. They sheltered themselves under a rock. Abp. Abbot.

To put under cover; to sheal. [Prov.ng.] Brockett.

n pieces, or shattering, of a ship or other vessel by being cast ashore or driven against rocks, shoals, etc., by the violence of the winds and waves.

). It lives on the seashore, and feeds on crustaceans, etc. -- Shore teetan (Zoöl.), the rock pipit (Anthus obscurus). [Prov. Eng.]

; unfair; shrewish. [Obs.] Chaucer. [Egypt] hath many shrewd havens, because of the great rocks that ben strong and dangerous to pass by. Sir J. Mandeville. Every of this happy number That have endured shrewd days and nights with us. Shak.

avoid; to keep clear of; to get out of the way of; to escape from; to eschew; as, to shun rocks, shoals, vice. I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Acts xx. 26,27. Scarcity and want shall shun you. Shak.

ose; to make fast the entrances into; as, to shut up a house. (b) To obstruct. "Dangerous rocks shut up the passage." Sir W. Raleigh. (c) To inclose; to confine; to imprison; to fasten in; as, to shut up a prisoner. Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be reveale…