shingle
The term evokes a sense of overlapping layers, whether in the physical construction of a roof or the natural accumulation of pebbles on a shoreline. When referring to beach pebbles, the word is often used as a collective mass noun, describing the texture of the coast rather than individual stones. In a professional context, the phrase "hanging a shingle" is a traditional idiom for establishing a private practice, particularly for lawyers or doctors. This usage stems from the historical practice of placing a small wooden sign outside an office to signal the start of a business.
Meanings
A thin, flat piece of wood, slate, or asbestos used for covering roofs.
"The old cottage had a roof made of cedar shingle."
A beach or shoreline composed of small, smooth, rounded pebbles.
"We walked along the shingle toward the lighthouse."
A small rectangular sign fixed to a wall or hanging from a building to advertise a business.
"The lawyer hung a professional shingle outside his office door."
A skin eruption consisting of a painful rash of blisters caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
"He suffered from a severe case of shingle during his vacation."