[ʃɛlf], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a flat length of wood or other rigid material, attached to a wall or forming part of a piece of furniture, that provides a surface for the storage or display of objects

- a ledge of rock or protruding strip of land


Phrases:
- off the shelf
- on the shelf

Origin:
Middle English: from Middle Low German schelf; related to Old English scylfe ‘partition’, scylf ‘crag’

[ʃɛlf], (Noun)

Definitions:
- an informer


Phrases:

Origin:
1930s (as a noun): probably from the phrase on the shelf ‘out of the way’

[ʃɛlf], (Verb)

Definitions:
- inform on (someone)
(e.g: he never shelfed a man in his life)


Phrases:

Origin:
1930s (as a noun): probably from the phrase on the shelf ‘out of the way’