shot English · revision 3542

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 899 (Old English scot, sceot)|origins=gem-pro *skutą}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ʃɒt/, US /ʃɑːt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|schot]], [[inh|ang|scot|t=a shot, a shooting; what is discharged in shooting]] (also [[m|ang|sceot]], [[m|ang|gesceot]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*skutą]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from the Germanic base of [[shoot]].^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986)^(COED 2004) Its cognates include [[ofs|skot|t=missile]], [[nl|schot]], [[de|Schuss|t=a shot]] and [[non|skot]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline traces it to [[ine-pro|*skeud-|t=to shoot, chase, throw]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) It is a doublet of [[scot]], “payment”, as in [[scot-free]].^(Klein 1966)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ That which is discharged in shooting: Old English ''scot'', before 899, in Alfred's writings.^(Barnhart 1988) The OED's first sense, a rapid movement or rush, is from before 1000.^(OED 1989) The act of shooting is probably from about 1300, in ''Guy of Warwick''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English ''shot'' meant an arrow or dart,^(Etymonline) and by the mid-15th century balls and bullets.^(Etymonline) The range of a missile in flight is from the early 15th century, hence range in general about 1600, as in ''earshot''.^(Etymonline) Small lead pellets are ''shot'' from 1770, short for ''small shot'' (1727).^(Etymonline) A payment, perhaps literally “money thrown down”, survives in ''scot-free''^(Etymonline) and in dialect, where a ''shot'' is a tavern bill.^(Wright 1898) “An attempt to hit with a projectile” is by the 1650s,^(Etymonline) and a drink from the 1670s; a small drink of spirits is from 1928.^(Etymonline) In sport, a shot at goal is from 1772, first in curling.^(Etymonline) A hypodermic injection is from 1904,^(Etymonline) and a photograph or film take is a later sense.^(AHD) The adjective, “wounded by a bullet”, is from 1837,^(Etymonline) and “ruined, worn out” is American slang by 1933.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 899 – Old English ''scot'' (Alfred).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – an act of shooting.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – range of a missile.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-15th century – a ball or bullet.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650s – an attempt to hit.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – a drink.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1770 – lead pellets.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1772 – a shot in sport.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1837 – adjective, wounded by a bullet.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1904 – an injection.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1933 – adjective, worn out.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The firing of a weapon such as a gun.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # An attempt to hit a target, or to score in a game.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The range of a missile; reach: ''within earshot''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Small lead or steel pellets fired from a [[shotgun]]; a single ball for a gun.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A person who shoots: ''a good shot''.^(AHD)

+ # An attempt or try: ''give it a shot''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A [[hypodermic]] injection.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A small drink of spirits.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A photograph, or a single continuous take in a film.^(AHD)

+ # The heavy metal ball thrown in the [[shot put]].^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of fabric, woven to show changing colours; [[iridescent]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # ''(informal)'' Worn out; ruined.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[shotless]]

+ * [[shotlike]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bloodshot]]

+ * [[shoot]]

+ * [[scot]]

+ * [[scot-free]]

+ * [[shotgun]]

+ * [[earshot]]

+ * [[upshot]]

+ * [[snapshot]]

+ * [[shotten]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The adjective ''shot'', of fabric showing a play of colours, is from 1763, from the past participle of [[shoot]] in its old sense “to variegate with threads of different colours”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}