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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

OUTSHOT, n., v. Also outshott, utshot (Sh.); -chert. [′utʃɔt]

I. n. 1. A projecting part of a wall or building, often of an upper storey (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 369; Fif. c.1850 R. Peattie MS.; Fif., Ayr., Kcb., s.Sc., Uls. 1964); an extension or addition to the side of a building, a lean-to; an alcove in a wall for holding a bed, gen. protruding from the rest of the building (Uls. 1953 Traynor).Lnk. 1709 Burgh Rec. Lnk. (1893) 277:
The baillies and councell upon a petitione presented to them by David Miller, for erecting and building ane fore outshott ane ell from the outter stair of his duelling house.Gsw. 1736 Session Papers, Magistrates Gsw. v. Gemmill (10 Feb.) 2:
The Vacuum immediately below the Pursuer's Out-shot, and in a Line within the two Stone-pillars which supported the same.Fif. 1772 E. Henderson Ann. Dunfermline (1879) 495:
The Council appoint the Dean of Gild and Clerk to look out and make up a list of those who have got a grant of out-shots or stairs on the streets.Gsw. 1800 Act for Establishing Police 12:
To remove, or cause to be remov'd, within a reasonable time, all outstairs, outshots, buildings, creations and other things whatsoever, which tend to obstruct free passage in the streets.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xxxvii.:
I maun speak to Lord Evandale to gie us a bit eik or outshot o' some sort to the onstead.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck v.:
An outshot from the back of the house.Sc. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Eliz. de Bruce I. vi.:
Near its sashed door, . . . was the trellissed window of a pantry or store place, one of the many low out-shots stuck round the mansion.Uls. 1942 E. E. Evans Irish Heritage 60:
Of special interest is the projecting bed-wing, the “outshot” or “cailleach”, which is attached to gabled houses throughout the north-west from Co. Derry to Co. Galway.

†2. Rough, uncultivated pasture-land on a farm. Cf. Outset, I. 2.Abd. 1825 Jam.:
This has a great deal of, or very little, outshot.

3. The ebb-tide (Sh. a.1838 Jam. XII. 169, 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1964). Adv. ¶ootcherts, on the ebb. Cf. Inshot.Sh. 1953 New Shetlander No. 35. 13:
The tide being now right — ootcherts or lifting. I'm not sure which.

¶4. A bursting out, an eruption, a breaking loose.Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms cxliv. 14:
That our knowte may be brawly thriven; neither outshot nor in-win amang them.

†5. An animal of poor quality rejected from a herd of cattle, etc. See Shot, Shuit.Lnl. 1750 Session Papers, Walker v. Ramsay (30 July) 3:
Eight of the Outshotts or worst of the said Cows.

II. v. Ppl.adj. outshot, †-schotten, projecting, protruding, bulging (em. and s.Sc. 1964).Sc. 1820 Scott Monastery xiv.:
From the out-shot or projecting window.Ayr. 1834 Galt Lit. Life III. 18:
There was likewise an outshot stone in the middle of the gavel.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie 51:
Seated on outshot shelving stairs.Abd. 1844 W. Thom Poems 40:
Wi' outshot een, o'er leaf an' line, Sae keenly did they leuk.Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms lxii. 3:
Like some out-schotten dyke, like some ill-thrawn wa', ye sal gang.Ayr. 1896 G. Umber Idylls 157:
The gran'faither o' him drank a twa-storey hoose in a fortnicht, an' it had ootshot garret windows, an' a backjam' built till't forby.Bwk.² 1948:
My house has ootshot windows.