Etymology From Middle English schitten, schetten, from Old English scyttan (“to cause rapid movement, shoot a bolt, shut, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *skutjaną, *skuttijaną (“to bar, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *skuttą, *skuttjō (“bar, bolt, shed”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewd- (“to drive, fall upon, rush”). The Modern English word was originally a dialect form; the Old English word would have normally merged with shit. Cognate with Dutch schutten (“to shut in, lock up”), Low German schütten (“to shut, lock in”), German schützen (“to shut out, dam, protect, guard”).
To remove or block an opening, gap or passage through.
Please shut the door.
The light was so bright I had to shut my eyes.
2 more examples
They shut the road for the festival.
If you wait too long, the automatic door will shut.
2
To make or become unreceptive.
He has shut his mind to new ideas.
3
UK To close (a business or venue) temporarily or permanently.
They generally shut the museum each day at 6 pm.
The supermarket shuts at eight o'clock.
1 more example
Lots of shops in the town centre have shut because of the recession.
4
To put out of use or operation.
We are shutting the phone lines at 9 pm.
They shut the airport because of a bomb scare.
5
To cease operation or cease to be available.
Phone lines will shut in ten minutes.
6
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, SciencesErgative To terminate an application, window, file or database connection, etc.
More usually 'close'
Shut the file when you have finished reading data.
This app has a bug: when you try to sort a large spreadsheet, it shuts.
7
To catch or snag in the act of shutting something.
He's just gone and shut his finger in the door!
8
To confine in an enclosed area; to enclose.
I shut the cat in the kitchen before going out.
9
To isolate, to close off from the world.
Now, sometimes in my sorrow shut, Or breaking into song by fits; Alone, alone, to where he sits, The Shadow cloak’d from head to foot Who keeps the keys of all the creeds, I wander, often falling lame, […]1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXIII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 39:
10
To preclude, exclude.
shut from every shore1697, Virgil, “Aeneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
11
Colloquial Synonym of shut up (“to stop talking or arguing”).
DD, what an idiot, please shut and quit distracting me with your drivel.1998 April 11, racerX66, “Speedvision Coverage”, in rec.autos.sport.f1 (Usenet), archived from the original on 03 Jul 2026:
Yes, BT's caller ID *does* send CLI before ringing, that is the major advantage of it, but if you don't realise that there are TWO standards in use in the UK (Bellcore's standard is alive and kicking right here in good ol' UK), then please shut and stop spouting on about something you know nothing about.1998 October 13, S J Watkins, “Q. Sky digibox and Phone line”, in alt.satellite.tv.europe (Usenet), archived from the original on 03 Jul 2026:
1 more example
now if you could produce any scholarly works that substantiate your rather uninformed claim, please do so. if you can't, please shut, because you don't know what you're talking about.2005 June 9, j r sherman, “Usenet Poets: 1999 [t o r m e n s h u m a n u m]”, in alt.arts.poetry.urban (Usenet), archived from the original on 03 Jul 2026:
12
Participle, Past simple past and past participle of shut
Etymology From Middle English schitten, schetten, from Old English scyttan (“to cause rapid movement, shoot a bolt, shut, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *skutjaną, *skuttijaną (“to bar, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *skuttą, *skuttjō (“bar, bolt, shed”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewd- (“to drive, fall upon, rush”). The Modern English word was originally a dialect form; the Old English word would have normally merged with shit. Cognate with Dutch schutten (“to shut in, lock up”), Low German schütten (“to shut, lock in”), German schützen (“to shut out, dam, protect, guard”).
Physically sealed, obstructed, folded together, etc.
A shut door barred our way into the house.
The door banged shut with a breeze.
3 more examples
Pleas keep your mouth shut while you are eating.
A book lay shut on the table.
I had to shut my eyes against the light.
2
Not available for use or operation.
Phone lines are now shut.
3
Of a business or venue Not operating or conducting trade; not allowing entrance to visitors or the public.
Banks are shut on bank holidays.
The museum is shut for the Christmas holidays.
4
Not receptive.
He mind is shut to new ideas.
5
Hobbies, Lifestyle, SportsEspecially Of a club, bat or other hitting implement, angled downwards and/or (for a right-hander) anticlockwise of straight.
Whenever a syllable is formed with a long, that is an open vowel, they account the syllable long; and whenever formed with a short, that is a shut vowel, they reckon it short.1810, Benjamin Humphrey Smart, A practical grammar of English pronunciation, page 344:
8
Archaic Archaic form of shot (“discharged, cleared, rid of something”).
When he asked her, she said, she thanked God he was dead, (the woman was glad to get shut of him) and said he died of an ague and fever.1813, Thomas Bayly Howell, Cobbett's Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason and Other Crimes and Misdemeanors, page 507:
Etymology From Middle English schitten, schetten, from Old English scyttan (“to cause rapid movement, shoot a bolt, shut, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *skutjaną, *skuttijaną (“to bar, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *skuttą, *skuttjō (“bar, bolt, shed”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewd- (“to drive, fall upon, rush”). The Modern English word was originally a dialect form; the Old English word would have normally merged with shit. Cognate with Dutch schutten (“to shut in, lock up”), Low German schütten (“to shut, lock in”), German schützen (“to shut out, dam, protect, guard”).
1
The act or time of shutting; close.
the shut of a door
Just then returnd at ſhut of Evening Flours.1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
2
A door or cover; a shutter.
3
The line or place where two pieces of metal are welded together.