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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
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Schuting, S(c)huit(t)ing, S(c)hutting, S(c)hoting, vbl. n.¹ Also: schwt-, schiwt-; s(c)hout(t)-, showt-; s(c)hott-; s(c)hoit(t)-; schoot(t)-, shoot-; schit(t)-; schet-; scut-, scuitt- and -inge, -yng(e, -e(i)ng, -in, -eine. [ME and e.m.E. scheotunge (Ancr. R.), schoting (a1352), shetyng (Lydgate), shutynge (1549), showttyng (1572), shooting (1579); S(c)hute v.]

1. The action of shooting with a bow or firearm. a. The action of discharging a missile (at a person, animal or place) from a bow or firearm. Cf. S(c)hute v. 21–23.(1) c1420 Wynt. viii 5292 (W).
Thare wes ofttymes bikkering Quhare thare wes fell and neire schuting [C. -ynge, R. schotyng] 1574 Acts III 84/2.
The wearing bering and schwting with culveringis daggis and fyre werkis is not left of and forborne 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 332.
The south quarter of the toure … fell throw the vehement and continuall schuting(b) c1515 Asl. MS I 269/23.
He was slane at Roxburgh with a gwn that brak in the schutting 1535 Stewart 5727.
And scharpe schutting gart mony cowart quaik Ib. 11925.
The bowmen … of thair schutting lute the Romanis feill Ib. 14949.
He ordanit … That na hunt beist with schutting sould be slane 1573 Digest Justiciary Proc. I 43.
The weiring beiring or schutting with culveringis daggis and fyre warkis is not lost and forborne a1578 Pitsc. I 143/15.
Ane peace of ane misframit gune that brak in the schutting Ib. II 24/2.
[They] layed ane seige to the castell with schot at it … with cannonis bot thay war nevir ane hairbred the better … of thair schutting 1622-6 Bisset II 237/19.
Unles throw hir schutting or conbatting sche streik saillis(c) 1570 Sat. P. xxiv 48.
At euerie port a spald of thé to hing, As tratouris sould, for schuitting vnder trest 1596 Dalr. II 90/1.
This parleament lykwyse discharges al man the futball … that the cuntrimen in schuiteng with the handbow mycht be the mair expert(d) 1700 Moncreiffs 370.
Debursements … on account of the Field Pieces … for small whyte iron pype made use of in quick shouting(e) a1578 Pitsc. II 296/29.
The nobilitie … held thame furth of sicht becaus of the schootting of the castell 1623 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. in Misc. Maitl. C. II 196.
Ther is ane gret abuse in hunting shooting and delving in uther mens lynks and holmis contraire to the acts of parliament 1681 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. VII 167.
That there be no shooting nor any displaying of ensigns, nor beating of drums during the cavelcade(f) 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XII 19.
Shotting(g) 1513 Doug. v ix heading.
Into this nixt cheptour ȝe may espy Nyse craft of schotyng and of archery 1565 Reg. Morton I 14.
Whear as we have taken order thorowgh our realme for restraynte of shotynge with gunnes 1612 Aberd. B. Rec. II 309.
For wearing of gunes and schoitting tharwith 1684 Laing MSS 427.
The Duke of Albany and York … was proclaimed king … with great solemnity, all the citizens being in arms … and the castle shoting(2) 1582 Jurid. Rev. IV 109.
[For] bering and wering pistolettis, lettin and schuttin therewith at George Auchinleck 1620 Grant Chart. 320.
Convict … for schuitting at deir or rae 1678 Lauder Notices Affairs I 182.
Mr. James Mitchell was upon the pannell at the criminall court for shutting at the Archbischop of St. Androis

b. The firing of a gun; the discharging of (in) a bow. Also with omission of of.(1) 1456 Acts II 45/2.
Gif thai haif na craft in the schuting of thame [sc. guns] [etc.] 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 439.
Throuch reakles schuttyng of one gret cannoun 1535 Acts II 345/2.
With trestis to be at all tymes reddy for schoting of the saidis hagbutis 1542 Reg. Privy S. II 734/2.
Throw schuting of ane culvering quhilk fyrit of the self 1543 Acts II 434/2.
The tressonable … schutting and emissioun of gunnis furth of the palace of Lynlythqw … at the propir persoun of vmquhile our maist serene fader 1558 Edinb. B. Rec. III 20.
That certane gunneris … be hyrit for handling graithing and shutting of the townyis monitioun 1575 Reg. Privy S.
[To underlie the law] for beiring and schutting of pistolettis 1578 Glenartney Doc.
VII 24/2. The brokin men of the hielandis … slew waistit and distroyit be schuting of culveringis hagbuttis bowis and vther wyse the deir of our forrest 1580 Crim. Trials I ii 91.
Exceptand the bering, wering and schuitting of pistolettis, quhilk is cuttit away 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV 300.
Shuiting 1602 Crim. Trials II 392.
In schuiting of ane pistulet … at the said Cristian Hammiltoune, and schuting of hir throw the courschet thairwith a1605 Birrel Diary 50.
The toune rais in armes with schutting of muskettis, casting of fyir workes [etc.] 1605 Crim. Trials II 461.
Schuteing 1626 Peebles B. Rec. I 414.
Schiwting 1645–6 Dumfries Treas. Acc. MS p. 20.
Shoiting 1657 Balfour Ann. II 98.
That day ther was ioy in London, … with shoutting of canons, ringing of bells [etc.] 1701 Orkney Rentals App. 71.
Shutting — 1596 Dalr. II 36/14.
Carle King of France 5 … calit thame fra schuiting in bowis, the kingis archeris, quhilkes tha vset baith in peace and weir(2) 1627–8 Misc. Spald. C. V 145.
To ane poore Inglis sojour, for schoiting tua peice of the tounes ordinance 1638 in Spalding I 91 n.

c. The discharging of a volley. 1633 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 386.
The compt of the gunneres … for prepairing the ordinance and scuitting of the woleis

d. The killing or wounding of a person or animal with such a missile. 1576 Crim. Trials I ii 48.
Dilatit of the schutting and slauchter of deir and ra in Meggitland 1585 Acts III 422/1.
Be … slaying hoching stikking and shutting of thair cattell 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V 10.
Quyntene … submittet himself in the towns will for schoting with ane hakbut ane of the swannis in the North loch 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I 143.
The grit … dampnage done to thair nychtbouris of the toun haifand doucattis … throuch schuting and slaying of the dowis be sindrie men of the toun 1611 Crim. Trials III 115.
The … slauchter of vmquhile Andro Lyndsay … be schuiting of him throw the body with ane pistolett 1612 Ib. 236.
Schoiteing 1662 Highland P. III 23.
The devill desyred her to tak the lyfe of John Glas proveists dun horse by shooting him

e. The action of shooting at a mark or target, as practice or sport, an instance of this; also, a shooting contest.With quot. 1590 cf. S(c)hute v. 22 e (5) (= to compete for in a shooting contest).Also appar. as a place-name element.(1) 1457 Acts II 48/2.
At the bowe markis be maide at ilk paroch kirk a pair of buttis and schuting be vsyt ilk Sunday … and that ilk man within that parochin that is within fyfte and passit xij ȝeris sall vse schuting 1491 Ib. 226/2.
That … for … defence of the realme be hantit bowis schvting and markis tharfore ordinit 1506–7 Treas. Acc. III 374.
To the king quhilk he tynt on schuting with the corsbow with William Douglas, xxviij s. 1507–8 Ib. IV 98.
To the king whilk he tynt on schuting with the culveryn in Schir George Newtonis ȝard, vij Franch crounis 1525 Aberd. B. Rec. I 112.
Young and able men to get culwerings, cors bowis, and hand bowis, and ws schitting witht the samyn 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 95.
iiij dosane of arrowis deliverit to the kingis grace for his aune schuting 1538 Ib. 391.
Lettres for proclammatioun making within all schyris for to use schuting with crocebow, handbow and culvering, etc. 1552 St. A. Links 2.
[Reserving to the council] all … possessioun … of the saidis linkis … in … playing at golf, futball, schuting, at all gamis a1570-86 Balnaves Maitl. F. 357/58.
Few honour wynnis In to that innys For schuting at the schellis a1578 Pitsc. I 340/5.
All … waillit men for all kynd of games and pastymes as schotting, lepping ryding and warsling 1590 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 255.
The quhilk day the first Sounday of May is appointit yeirlie for schuitting at the siluer gwn 1596 Dalr. I 92/14.
This maner of way thay vset to bring vp thair bairnes. First to exercise thame in schoteng arrowis, neist in casteng dartes, thaireftir in feiding horses, and prouoiking thame to rinn(2) 1507–8 Treas. Acc. IV 99.
Quhilk he tynt efter none in Schir George Newtonis ȝard at the schuting xxviij s. 1511–12 Ib. 327.
Tint be the king at the schuting at the schort buttis and syne at the lang buttis … ij Franch crounis(3) a1500 Colk. Sow ii 103.
On the morne a grit schoting thay did cry Quhair Flanislie our all wan victory(4) 1456 Exch. R. VI 211.
De firmis terrarum dictarum le Schetingacres 1458 Ib. 470.
Terrarum que dicuntur Schitingacris … infra dictum vicecomitatum de Elgyn

f. attrib. and comb. Montg. quot. in (1) may belong in (2).(1) 1621 Edinb. Test. LI 56b.
Tua schuitting bowis … sex pundis 1622 Black Bk. Taymouth 374.
Ane schutting bow, price thairof xii lib. 1626 Brechin Test. IV 237b.
Ane shouttin bow with ane bag of arrous — 1634 Edinb. Test. LVI 253b.
Certane schuting gwnis 1646 Ib. LXI 276b.
Ane shutting peice with snap work — 1582 Exch. R. XXI 208.
26 s. 8 d. of certain schouting pulder a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 131 (W).
Or quhat gif I suld lend thee heir My bowe and all my schuitting [L. schuting, Wr. shooting] geir? 1596 Dalr. II 295/13.
The gayleis shuiting al kynd of shuitting bulletis 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 288.
Schooting arrowes the groce xxiiii li. — 1625–6 Peebles B. Rec. I 414.
For mending of the schoiting buitis 1662–3 Ib. II 204.
For mending the shotting butts(2) 1541 Treas. Acc. VII 441.
To be the kingis grace ane schoting doublet xj quarteris blak velvet 1611 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 86.
xxiiij s. for thre elnis plading for bondathe and iij s. iij d. for a schuitting stand — 1504 Treas. Acc. II 449.
Tua schuting gluffis to the king 1511–12 Ib. IV 200.
To Johne the Mar, skynner for … three schuting gluffis 1512 Ib. 373.
To Johne of Mar, skynner, for … thre shoting gluvis vj s. 1542 Acts & Decr. I 141.
Ane schuting gluif sewit with silk 1553 Treas. Acc. X 194.
Ane schotinge glufe 1595 Edinb. Test. XXVIII 195b.
Tua schutting gluifis at iiij s. the pair 1600 Treas. Acc. MS 106b.
Ane dosan of arrowis iij li., ane schutting gluif … iij li. x s. 1615 Edinb. Test. XLVIII 215.
Schuiteine 1615 Reg. Privy S. MS 21 Nov.
Ane schutting brais gluiff 1621 Edinb. Test. LI 76b.
Fiftein schuitting gloues with ten braceis 1627 Ib. LIV 117.
Sum small graithe as bairnes schuitting gloves and menis schuitting gloves 1643 Ib. LX 234b.
Ane dossane of schutting gloves estimat all to xlviij s.

2. The act of expelling (a person) from (fra) a place. Cf. S(c)hute v. 9. 1562-3 Winȝet I 8/8.
Or of the schuiting of honeste men fra thair native roumes

3. The act of placing in position, or casting, (a fishing net). Cf. S(c)hute v. 10 b. c1516 Sutherland Chart. in Orig. Par. II ii 739.
[Full right to the salmon fishing of the water of Helmysdale] … in schutting of the nettis and drawing to land of the samyn with the fischis tharin 1566 Prot. Bk. W. Cumming 69.
Gef Donald M^cillechoan reall possession of the half cobyll salmon fysching … be deliuering to hym cobyll and net and be schutting in the said watter with the same

4. The action of pushing or thrusting (a person) (in a specified direction or into a specified place). Cf. S(c)hute v. 8. b. fig. ? Putting (oneself) forward, forwarding one's own interests. 1573–4 Glasgow B. Rec. I 2.
In invadyng of him and stryking of him with ane quhinger and schutyng him on the wallis 1574 Ib. (MC) 6.
For trublance done be hir to Jonet … in schutyng of hir violentlie upone the watterside 1575 Ib. (BRS) I 43.
For trublans done … in schutyng of hir doun in hir awin fyre 1576–7 Ib. (MC) 64.
For trublans done be him to Jonet Lang … in scuting of hir wiolentlie our ane bray to the erd 1603 Dysart Gleanings 49.
James Symson … [is] convictit … for schuting of Meig Thomson … in the sey 1623 Linlithgow B. Rec. 14 Feb.
The great wrang done be Robert Gib in schuitteing … and dumpelling him 1625 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 147.
To have trublit other in schutting & sqouring other … on the gait 1641 Aberd. B. Rec. III 267.
William Walker, lax fisher, wes convict … for shooteing his said maister in the watter 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II 10.
Eupham Pringill … grantes schooting over of Jonet Dickisone and dunsching hir upon the neck 1669 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 37.
[David] did soe grosslie abuse the said Margaret with stroaks and shooting till she was bled in her legs 1676 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 10 June.
Throw the said John his shooting of Issobell Douglas … to the wallb. 1571 Sempill Sat. P. xxviii 63.
Smart in my schuitting & singular in my science

5. The postponement (of an appointment). Cf. S(c)hute v. 26. 1576 Reg. Morton I 82.
The caus of the schuitting of the said tryist was becaus of my lord regentes grace cuming in the cuntrie and … we desyrit ȝour majestie to appoynt ane new tryist

6. The action of forcing (a lock), in sense 14 b of S(c)hute v. 1623 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 143.
The assyse finds Cristiane Strang to be ane actuall pyking theiff in shutting of lockis … & stealing of … meal 1680 Argyll Justic. Rec. 118.
In breaking of hinges and shooting of locks and other things to accomplish the many villanies peckries and others done by him

7. Allusively, with ref. to elf-shooting Elf n. 2. See S(c)hute v. 25 c. 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 199.
Thow (and) Cristane Malcomsoune being present in the said chalmer att the schotting of the said pictur