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shamble

1. (Science: chemical) 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. A place where butcher's meat is sold. As summer flies are in the shambles. (Shak)

3. A place for slaughtering animals for meat. To make a shambles of the parliament house. (Shak)

Origin: OE. Schamel a bench, stool, AS. Scamel, sceamol, a bench, form, stool, fr. L. Scamellum, dim. Of scamnum a bench, stool.