shelf
UK: ʃɛlf | US: ʃɛlf
n. a flat, horizontal surface, typically fixed to a wall or in a frame, used for storing or displaying objects
n. (geology) a projecting layer of rock
n. (figurative) a defined level or category (e.g., "top-shelf quality")
The word "shelf" traces back to Old English scylfe or scelf, meaning "a ledge or platform." It shares Germanic roots with Dutch shelf and German Schelf, all conveying the idea of a flat, projecting surface. Unlike many modern English words, "shelf" remains structurally intact from its ancestral form, reflecting its practical, everyday utility across centuries. Its meaning expanded metaphorically (e.g., "top-shelf") to denote quality or hierarchy, mirroring physical shelves' vertical arrangement.
She placed the books neatly on the wooden shelf.
The continental shelf extends far into the ocean.
This whiskey is top-shelf—worth every penny.
Dust accumulated on the neglected shelf.
The carpenter built custom shelves for the tiny apartment.