Defn: 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 Shoot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shot; p. pr. & vb. n. Shooting. The old participle Shotten is obsolete. See Shotten.] Etym: [OE. shotien, schotien, AS. scotian, v. i., sceótan; akin to D. schieten, G. schie, OHG. sciozan, Icel. skj, Sw. skjuta, Dan. skyde; cf. Skr. skund to jump. sq. root159. 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. Shak.
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. Boyle.
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. A. Tucker.
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. Beau & Fl. A pit into which the dead carts had nightly shot corpses by scores. Macaulay.
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. Ps. xxii. 7. Beware the secret snake that shoots a sting. Dryden.
6. (Carp.)
Defn: To plane straight; to fit by planing. Two pieces of wood that are shot, that is, planed or else pared with a paring chisel. Moxon.
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. Dryden.