SHINGLE

PRONUNCIATION: (SHING-guhl)

MEANING: noun: 1. A tile laid in overlapping rows to cover walls or roofs.
2. A small signboard indicating a professional office. Used in the phrase “to hang one’s shingle”.
3. A woman’s close-cropped haircut tapering from the back of the head to the nape.
4. Waterworn pebbles found on a beach.
5. A place where such pebbles are found.
verb tr.: 1. To cover with shingles or to lay out something in an overlapping manner.
2. To cut hair in a shingle.
3. To squeeze or hammer puddled iron to remove impurities.

ETYMOLOGY: For noun 1-3 & verb 1-2: From Latin scindula (a thin piece of wood). Earliest documented use: 1200.
For noun 4-5: Of uncertain origin. Earliest documented use: 1513.
For verb 3: From French cingler (to whip or beat), from German zängeln, from Zange (tongs). Earliest documented use: 1674.
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SHINOLE - a brand of brown shoe polish

SPHINGLE - the Sphinx's daughter

SHIGGLE - combination of shimmy and wiggle, close to a modern-day twerk