[sham.bles] n pl but sing or pl in constr [ME shameles, pl. of schamel vendor's table, footstool, fr. OE sceamol stool, fr. L scamillum, dim. of scamnum stool, bench; perh. akin to Skt skambha pillar] (15c) 1 archaic: a meat market
2: slaughterhouse 3 a: a place of mass slaughter or bloodshed b: a scene or a state of great destruction: wreckage c (1): a scene or a state of great disorder or confusion (2): great confusion: mess