— shelflike , adj.
/shelf/ , n. , pl. shelves /shelvz/ .
1. a thin slab of wood, metal, etc., fixed horizontally to a wall or in a frame, for supporting objects.
2. the contents of this: a shelf of books.
3. a surface or projection resembling this; ledge.
4. Physical Geog.
a. a sandbank or submerged extent of rock in the sea or river.
b. the bedrock underlying an alluvial deposit or the like.
c. See continental shelf .
5. Archery. the upper part of the bow hand, on which the arrow rests.
6. off the shelf , readily available from merchandise in stock: Any of those parts can be purchased off the shelf.
7. on the shelf , Informal.
a. put aside temporarily; postponed.
b. inactive; useless.
c. without prospects of marriage, as after having broken an engagement.
[ 1350-1400; ME; OE scylfe; akin to LG schelf shelf, ON -skjalf bench ]