Shoot

Shoot (?), n. [F. chute. See Chute. Confused with shoot to let fly.] An inclined plane, either artificial or natural, down which timber, coal, etc., are caused to slide; also, a narrow passage, either natural or artificial, in a stream, where the water rushes rapidly; esp., a channel, having a swift current, connecting the ends of a bend in the stream, so as to shorten the course. [Written also chute, and shute.] [U. S.]

To take a shoot, to pass through a shoot instead of the main channel; to take the most direct course. [U.S.]

Shoot, v. i. 1. To cause an engine or weapon to discharge a missile; -- said of a person or an agent; as, they shot at a target; he shoots better than he rides.

The archers have . . . shot at him.

2. To discharge a missile; -- said of an engine or instrument; as, the gun shoots well.

3. To be shot or propelled forcibly; -- said of a missile; to be emitted or driven; to move or extend swiftly, as if propelled; as, a shooting star.

There shot a streaming lamp along the sky.

4. To penetrate, as a missile; to dart with a piercing sensation; as, shooting pains.

Thy words shoot through my heart.

5. To feel a quick, darting pain; to throb in pain.

These preachers make
His head to shoot and ache.

6. To germinate; to bud; to sprout.

Onions, as they hang, will shoot forth.

But the wild olive shoots, and shades the ungrateful plain.

7. To grow; to advance; as, to shoot up rapidly.

Well shot in years he seemed.

Delightful task! to rear the tender thought,
To teach the young idea how to shoot.

8. To change form suddenly; especially, to solidify.

If the menstruum be overcharged, metals will shoot into crystals.

9. To protrude; to jut; to project; to extend; as, the land shoots into a promontory.

There shot up against the dark sky, tall, gaunt, straggling houses.

10. (Naut.) To move ahead by force of momentum, as a sailing vessel when the helm is put hard alee.

To shoot ahead, to pass or move quickly forward; to outstrip others.

Shoot (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shot (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Shooting. The old participle Shotten is obsolete. See Shotten.] [OE. shotien, schotien, AS. scotian, v. i., sceótan; akin to D. schieten, G. schie?en, OHG. sciozan, Icel. skj?ta, Sw. skjuta, Dan. skyde; cf. Skr. skund to jump. √159. Cf. Scot a contribution, Scout to reject, Scud, Scuttle, v. i., Shot, Sheet, Shut, Shuttle, Skittish, Skittles.] 1. To let fly, or cause to be driven, with force, as an arrow or a bullet; -- followed by a word denoting the missile, as an object.

If you please
To shoot an arrow that self way.

2. To discharge, causing a missile to be driven forth; -- followed by a word denoting the weapon or instrument, as an object; -- often with off; as, to shoot a gun.

The two ends od a bow, shot off, fly from one another.

3. To strike with anything shot; to hit with a missile; often, to kill or wound with a firearm; -- followed by a word denoting the person or thing hit, as an object.

When Roger shot the hawk hovering over his master's dove house.

4. To send out or forth, especially with a rapid or sudden motion; to cast with the hand; to hurl; to discharge; to emit.

An honest weaver as ever shot shuttle.

A pit into which the dead carts had nightly shot corpses by scores.

5. To push or thrust forward; to project; to protrude; -- often with out; as, a plant shoots out a bud.

They shoot out the lip, they shake the head.

Beware the secret snake that shoots a sting.

6. (Carp.) To plane straight; to fit by planing.

Two pieces of wood that are shot, that is, planed or else pared with a paring chisel.

7. To pass rapidly through, over, or under; as, to shoot a rapid or a bridge; to shoot a sand bar.

She . . . shoots the Stygian sound.

8. To variegate as if by sprinkling or intermingling; to color in spots or patches.

The tangled water courses slept,
Shot over with purple, and green, and yellow.

To be shot of, to be discharged, cleared, or rid of. [Colloq.] "Are you not glad to be shot of him?" Sir W. Scott.

Shoot, n. 1. The act of shooting; the discharge of a missile; a shot; as, the shoot of a shuttle.

The Turkish bow giveth a very forcible shoot.

One underneath his horse to get a shoot doth stalk.

2. A young branch or growth.

Superfluous branches and shoots of this second spring.

3. A rush of water; a rapid.

4. (Min.) A vein of ore running in the same general direction as the lode. Knight.

5. (Weaving) A weft thread shot through the shed by the shuttle; a pick.

6. [Perh. a different word.] A shoat; a young hog.