From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Shovel \Shov"el\, n. [OE. shovele, schovele, AS. scoft, sceoft;
akin to D. schoffel, G. schaufel, OHG. sc?vala, Dan. skovl,
Sw. skofvel, skyffel, and to E. shove. [root]160. See
Shove, v. t.]
An implement consisting of a broad scoop, or more or less
hollow blade, with a handle, used for lifting and throwing
earth, coal, grain, or other loose substances.
[1913 Webster]
Shovel hat, a broad-brimmed hat, turned up at the sides,
and projecting in front like a shovel, -- worn by some
clergy of the English Church. [Colloq.]
Shovelspur (Zool.), a flat, horny process on the tarsus of
some toads, -- used in burrowing.
Steam shovel, a machine with a scoop or scoops, operated by
a steam engine, for excavating earth, as in making railway
cuttings.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Shovel \Shov"el\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shoveledor Shovelled;
p. pr. & vb. n. Shoveling or Shovelling.]
1. To take up and throw with a shovel; as, to shovel earth
into a heap, or into a cart, or out of a pit.
[1913 Webster]
2. To gather up as with a shovel.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
shovel
n 1: a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a
curved container or scoop and a handle
2: the quantity a shovel can hold [syn: shovel, shovelful,
spadeful]
3: a fire iron consisting of a small shovel used to scoop coals
or ashes in a fireplace
4: a machine for excavating [syn: power shovel, excavator,
digger, shovel]
v 1: dig with or as if with a shovel; "shovel sand"; "he
shovelled in the backyard all afternoon long"