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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

S(c)hut, S(c)hute, Shott, v. Also: shutt, shoot. P.t. schoat; schet. P.p. shut(te, s(c)hute, s(c)hoot, schott, shot; schet, shett; schit. [ME and e.m.E. schutte(n (Ancr. R.), ssete(n (1340), schitte(n (Wyclif), shette(n (Lydgate), shut (1535), p.t. schette (c1320), schutte (c1370), schitte (Wyclif), p.p. shet (Chaucer), schowt (1487), shute (?a1500), shot (1521), shut (1526), beside usual ME shitten, OE scyttan, ultimately f. *skut wk. grade of the root of S(c)hute v.]See also Furthschet p.p.

I. 1. tr. To conclude (a conversation); to bring to a close. ?1438 Alex. ii 5490.
‘Lordingis, I rede,’ said Cassamus, ‘We schute this speke [F. rompons cest parlement]’

2. To close (a door, gate, etc.). Also in fig. context. In p.p., also passing into ppl. adj., referring to the closed state of the door, etc., rather than to the action of closing it.(a) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1903.
Schute [L. schit] was the dure; in at a boir I blent 1558-66 Knox I 458.
[They] compelled the porte to be opened efter that it was schoot 1572 Bann. Memor. 268.
The protestantis within the said toun … schoat all the geatis that none sould escaip a1605 Montg. Devot. P. iii 16.
Thair is no winning ouer the wall Fra ains the dur be shute 1652 Cullen Kirk S. 12 Sept.
& the door being shoot upon them tuo alon drank ther 1668 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 488.
That they cause shott the haill portes of the toune, except the Netherbow(b) 1513 Doug. i v 113.
The dreidful portis salbe schet … Of Janus tempill Ib. x i 51.
The strenth of wallys, nor the portis schet May nocht salf Troianysfig. 1570 Bann. Memor. 59.
Shall the loue of this wretched lyfe so schut the duris of my hart, that I sall neuer returne unfainedlie towardis my God?

b. With the lock as object. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxv 73.
Quhat can both shoot and open loks As can the only kie? Persaiv this … paradox

3. To prevent access to a place by or as by closing the doors, etc. b. fig. c. To shute (a person's) hart, to make (him) callous or unfeeling. 1513 Doug. viii iv 98.
He … With gret irne slottis schet the entre syneb. 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 49.
Quherby the entrey to the ministrie is shutte upon the best qualifiedc. c1590 Fowler I 131/156.
No secreit sall be than To cower or close, to hyde or shute the hartis & thoughts of man

II. With various adverb complements.

4. To schut in, to confine, enclose.(a) 1600 Acts IV 206/1.
‘How cam ȝe in heir?' … ‘I am schott in heir lyk as ane dog’(b) 1513 Doug. i ii 8.
Quhar Eolus … the wyndis … In bandis hard schet in presoun constrenys Ib. vii ix 126.
Ful clos within his palice he him schet

5. To schut out, to exclude (someone), as by locking doors against him. 1613 P. Forbes Exquisite Commentary on Revel. (1613) 107.
[Satan] being … shut out of God His house, he furiously mistrammeth his owne

6. To schut up. a. intr. To cease what one is saying or doing. b. tr. To confine (someone) in a place from which there is no escape. lit. and fig. c. To conclude (a discourse, etc.); to bring, or come, to an end.a. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 62.
Leist in tyme to cum, quhen treuth sall schyne out, thay schute up and stop with haitrent of thameb. 1587-99 Hume 115/165.
The sinnes of mankind quhairin all wer shot vp through the disobedience of … Adam 1657 Balfour Ann. I 15.
This Malcolme Mackeneth, being apprehendit, wes shot upe a closse prissoner(b) 1558-66 Knox I 12.
Ye think … that He [sc. God] is so shett up in the heavin, that He regardis not what is done into the earthc. ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 62.
The doxologye should still shutt upp the reading of the evangile 1678 Dunkeld Presb. I 71.
Only the minister sometimes shuts up his prayer with it [sc. amen]