WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Sham"ble
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. schamel a bench, stool, AS. scamel, sceamol, a bench, form, stool, fr. L. scamellum, dim. of scamnum a bench, stool.]
Definition : 1. (Mining)

Defn: One of a succession of niches or platforms, one above another, to hold ore which is thrown successively from platform to platform, and thus raised to a higher level.

2. pl.

Defn: A place where butcher's meat is sold. As summer flies are in the shambles. Shak.

3. pl.

Defn: A place for slaughtering animals for meat. To make a shambles of the parliament house. Shak.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Sham"ble
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [Cf. OD. schampelen to slip, schampen to slip away, escape. Cf. Scamble, Scamper.]
Definition : Defn: To walk awkwardly and unsteadily, as if the knees were weak; to shuffle along.

i. [imp. & p. p. Shambled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shambling.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913