Etymology dictionary

shootist (n.) — shrewd (adj.)

shootist (n.)

"one who shoots game or competes in shooting matches; a skilled gunman," 1864, from shoot (v.) + -ist.

1953, "sustained exchange of gunfire;" the expression shoot it out "settle (a conflict, dispute, etc.) by an exchange of gunfire" is from 1912; see shoot (v.) + out (adv.). As a type of sports tie-breaker, by 1978.

shoot-up (n.)

"furious exchange of gunfire," by 1922, from the verbal phrase shoot up "assail by shooting, rampage with guns" (1890); see shoot (v.) + up (adv.). The phrase is attested in late Old English, but in a sense of "well up, overflow." Shoot-'em-up (adj.) in reference to violent entertainment (Western movies, etc.) is from 1942.

shop (v.)

1680s, "to bring something to a shop, to expose for sale," from shop (n.). The meaning "to visit shops for the purpose of examining or purchasing goods" is first attested 1764. Related: Shopped; shopping. Shop around "seek alternatives before choosing" is from 1922.

shopping (n.)

1764, "the act or practice of visiting shops for the purpose of examining and purchasing goods," a verbal noun from shop (v.). The meaning "goods that have been purchased" is attested by 1934.

Shopping bag is attested from 1864; shopping cart by 1929. Shopping list, of purchases to be made or stores to be visited, is by 1874; transferred and figurative use is by 1959. The modern shopping center is attested by 1922 in reference to the shopping district in a city (New York's upper Fifth Avenue); by 1926 in reference to planned outlying commercial developments. Shopping day "day in which stores are open" is by 1859; specifically in advertisements announcing the time remaining to purchase Christmas gifts, by 1881.

shop (n.)

c. 1300, "booth or shed for trade or work," perhaps from Old English scoppa, a rare word of uncertain meaning, apparently related to scypen "cowshed," from Proto-Germanic *skoppan "small additional structure" (source also of Old High German scopf "building without walls, porch," German dialectal Scopf "porch, cart-shed, barn," German Schuppen "a shed"), from a root *skupp-. Or the Middle English word was acquired from Old French eschoppe "booth, stall" (Modern French échoppe), which is a Germanic loan-word from the same root.

The meaning "building or room set aside for sale of merchandise" is from mid-14c. The meaning "schoolroom equipped for teaching vocational arts" is from 1914, American English (as in shop class, attested by 1948).

The sense of "one's own business, craft, or calling" is from 1814, as in talk shop (v.), "converse in general society about matters pertaining to one's trade," which is attested in this sense by 1847. Shop-talk (n.) is by 1881.

shopaholic (n.)

person who shops obsessively, 1984, from shop (v.) + -aholic.

shop-bell (n.)

"small bell so hung as to ring notice of the opening of a shop door," 1801, from shop (n.) + bell (n.).

shop-boy (n.)

"boy employed in a shop," 1610s, from shop (n.) + boy (n.). Shopman as "assistant in a shop" is by 1758. Shop-girl , also shopgirl, "girl employed in a shop" is by 1820; earlier it meant "a domestic servant who assists in shopping" (by 1781); shop-maid is from 1650s; shop-woman from 1753. Genderless shop-assistant is by 1812, British English; slang shoppie (or shoppy) is by 1909.

shopkeeper (n.)

1520s, "one who keeps a shop for the sale of goods; a retail trader," as distinct from a merchant or wholesaler; from shop (n.) + keeper. The verbal phrase keep shop is attested from 15c. Caxton (late 15c.) uses shop-holder. The phrase nation of shopkeepers is in Adam Smith (1776), but rose to public attention c. 1803 as Napoleon's supposed disparaging and dismissive judgment on his neighbors to the north, who embraced the label. Related: Shop-keeping.

shoplifter (n.)

"one who purloins goods from a shop while posing as a customer," 1670s, from shop (n.) + agent noun of lift (v.). Also as nouns in the same sense were shop-lift (1670s); shop-thief (1849).

shoplifting (n.)

"the pilfering of goods from a shop," 1690s, from shoplifter.

shoplift (v.)

also shop-lift, "steal from a shop while posing as a customer," 1711, a back-formation from shoplifting. Earlier it was rogue's cant for "a shoplifter" (1660s). Related: Shoplifted.

shopman (n.)

1590s, "owner of a shop, shopkeeper;" 1758, "assistant in a shop;" from shop (n.) + man (n.).

shoppe (n.)

a common Middle English form or spelling of shop (n.) used in Chaucer, etc. Noted by 1918 as an antiquarian affectation in U.S. commercial establishments.

Other Middle English variant spellings, left in commercial obscurity, include shope, schop, schope, chop, choppe, shep, ssoppe, scop-, shup-.

shopper (n.)

1860, "one who visits shops for the purpose of examining and buying goods," agent noun from shop (v.). As a newspaper devoted to advertising, by 1958.

shop-window (n.)

"a window of a shop," especially one of the front windows, in which goods are displayed, mid-15c., shoppes windoue, from shop (n.) + window (n.).

shop-worn (adj.)

"somewhat shabby from handling while on display," by 1811, from shop (n.) + worn (adj.). Shop-soiled in the same sense is by 1862. An earlier nonce-use was shop-rid (1610s), based on bed-rid.

shore (n.)

"land bordering a large body of water," c. 1300, from Old English scora, sceor- (in place-names) or from Middle Low German schor "shore, coast, headland," or Middle Dutch scorre "land washed by the sea," all probably from Proto-Germanic *skur-o- "cut," from PIE root *sker- (1) "to cut."

This is the usual theory, "but the etymological notion is not easy to determine" [OED]. It has been proposed as meaning "division" between land and water, but if the word began on the North Sea coast of the continent, it might as well have meant originally "land 'cut off' from the mainland by tidal marshes" (compare Old Norse skerg "an isolated rock in the sea," related to sker "to cut, shear").

Old English words for "coast, shore" were strand (n.), waroþ, ofer. Few Indo-European languages have such a single comprehensive word for "land bordering water" (Homer uses one word for sandy beaches, another for rocky headlands).

General application to "country near a seacoast" is attested from 1610s. In law, typically the tract between the high- and low-water marks (1620s). Shore-bird is attested from 1670s; the sailor's shore-leave by 1845.

shore (v.)

mid-14c., shoren, "to prop, support with or as if by a prop," from or related to shore (n.) "a prop, a support" (late 13c.); words of obscure etymology though widespread in Germanic (Middle Dutch schooren "to prop up, support;" Middle Low German schore "a barrier;" Old Norse skorða "piece of timber set up as a support"). Related: Shored; shoring.

The noun survives in technical senses, "post or beam for temporary support of something" (mid-15c.), especially an oblique timber to brace the side of a building or excavation.

shoreland (n.)

"land bordering the shore," by 1807, from shore (n.) + land (n.).

shoreline (n.)

also shore-line, "line where the shore and the water meet," by 1839 in the geographical sense, from shore (n.) + line (n.).

shorn (adj.)

"shaven," late Old English scoren, strong past-participle adjective from shear (v.). Originally of clerics; by 1510s of sheep.

short (n.)

1580s, the short "the result, the total," from short (adj.). The meaning "electrical short circuit" is by 1906 (see short circuit). The meaning "contraction of a name or phrase" is by 1845 (in for short). The general sense of "whatever is deficient in number, quality, etc." is by 1868.

By 1823 as "a short drink." The slang meaning "car" is attested from 1897; originally "street car," so called because street cars (or the rides taken in them) were "shorter" than railroad cars. By 1929 as "a short film."

short (v.)

Old English sceortian "to grow short, become short; run short, fail," from the source of short (adj.). Transitive meaning "make short or shorter" is from late 12c. Meaning "to short-circuit" is by 1904. Related: Shorted; shorting.

shortness (n.)

Middle English shortnes, shortnesse, from Old English scortnes "want of length or height;" see short (adj.) + -ness. By late 14c. as "little duration; brevity in speaking or writing." From 1630s as "defectiveness." Shortness of breath is attested from 1570s.

short (adv.)

c. 1300, from short (adj.). To fall short is from archery. To cut (something) short is by 1590s. To sell short "sell what the seller does not at the time possess" is by 1852.

shorts (n.)

"short pants," 1826, from short (adj.). Short-shorts is attested from 1946, originally men's briefs.

short (adj.)

Middle English short, from Old English sceort, scort "of little length; not tall; of brief duration," probably from Proto-Germanic *skurta- (source also of Old Norse skorta "to be short of," skort "shortness;" Old High German scurz "short"), from PIE root *sker- (1) "to cut," on the notion of "something cut off."

Compare Sanskrit krdhuh "shortened, maimed, small;" Latin curtus "short," cordus "late-born," originally "stunted in growth;" Old Church Slavonic kratuku, Russian korotkij "short;" Lithuanian skursti "to be stunted," skardus "steep;" Old Irish cert "small," Middle Irish corr "stunted, dwarfish," all considered to be from the same root.

Of memories from mid-14c. The sense of "not up to a required standard or amount" is from late 14c.; that of "not far enough to reach the mark" is by 1540s, in archery; that of "having an insufficient quantity" is from 1690s. The meaning "rude, curt, abrupt" is attested from late 14c. The meaning "easily provoked" is from 1590s; perhaps the notion is of being "not long in tolerating."

Of vowels or syllables, "not prolonged in utterance," late Old English. Of alcoholic drinks, colloquially, "unmixed with water, undiluted," by 1839, so called because served in small measure.

Short rib "asternal rib, one of the lower ribs," which are in general shorter than the upper ones, is from c. 1400. Short fuse in the figurative sense of "quick temper" is attested by 1951. Short run "relatively brief period of time" is from 1879. Short story for "work of prose fiction shorter than a novel" is recorded by 1877. To make short work of "dispose of quickly" is attested from 1570s. Phrase short and sweet is from 1530s. To be short by the knees (1733) was to be kneeling; to be short by the head (1540s) was to be beheaded.

shortage (n.)

"deficiency, the amount by which anything is short," 1862, American English, from short + -age.

shortbread (n.)

also short-bread, "flat cake made of flour, butter, and sugar in proportion to make it 'short' (crumbly) when baked," 1755, from short (see shortening) + bread (n.).

shortcake (n.)

also short-cake, a type of rich, crisp tea-cake made from a wide variety of recipes, the only consistent ingredient in them seems to be butter or lard to make it "short" (crumbly), 1590s; see shortening + cake (n.).

short-change (v.)

also shortchange, "to cheat by giving too little change to," by 1893, American English (implied in short-changed), from adjectival expression short-change (with man, worker, operator, trick, racket, etc.), by 1886, from short (adj.) + change (n.) in the money sense. In late 19c. they were among the shady hangers on of traveling circuses. The noun phrase short change for "insufficient change" is attested by 1850. Related: Short-changing.

short circuit (n.)

also short-circuit, 1854, in electricity, "a shunt connecting two parts of an electric current so as to carry a greater part of it," from short (adj.) + circuit (n.). As a verb, "introduce a shunt of low resistance into an electric current," from 1867; intransitive sense from 1902; in the figurative sense by 1899. Related: Short-circuited; short-circuiting.

shortcoming (n.)

"a falling off of the usual quality, a failure of performance, a delinquency," 1670s, from the phrase to come short "be inadequate" (1570s); see short (adj.) + come (v.). Related: Shortcomings.

shortcut (n.)

also short-cut, "path taken between two places not as long as the ordinary way," 1580s (figurative), from short (adj.) + cut (n.) in the sense "passage, course, or way straight across" (1570s). As a verb, "take a shortcut, cross by a shortcut, overtake by means of a shortcut," by 1915. Related: Shortcutting.

shorten (v.)

mid-14c., shortenen, "make shorter;" late 14c., "grow shorter," from short (adj.) + -en (1); the earlier form of the verb was simply short, from Old English sceortian "to grow short, become short; run short, fail," gescyrtan "to make short." For cookery sense (1733) see shortening. Related: Shortened.

shortening (n.)

1540s, "action of making short," verbal noun from shorten.

The meaning "butter or other fat or oil used in baking" (by 1796) is from shorten in the cookery sense "make crumbly," attested by 1733. This is from short (adj.) in a secondary sense in reference to food, "friable, easily crumbled," attested by early 15c. in cookery books.

Hence short pastry, in full shortcrust pastry, that to which lard or butter has been added to make it soft and flaky. This also is the short in shortbread and shortcake. Also shortening bread (by 1884), a U.S. Southern specialty.

Short (adj.) as "easily crumbled" also has been applied to things other than food, and this use of it perhaps implies "having short fibers," as materials with short fibers fall apart more easily (e.g. short-staple cotton).

shortfall (n.)

also short-fall, "amount by which a supply falls short," 1895, from the verbal phrase; see short (adv.) + fall (v.).

short-hair (n.)

type of domestic cat, by 1890, abbreviated from short-hair cat, from short (adj.) + hair (n.).

short-handed (adj.)

also shorthanded, "having too few 'hands,' not having the necessary number of workers or assistants," 1794, from short (adj.) + -handed. The ice hockey sense is attested from 1939.

shorthand (n.)

"method or system using abbreviations or arbitrary simple characters to enable rapid writing," 1630s, from short (adj.) in the "rapid" sense + hand (n.) "handwriting." Related: Shorthander.

shorthorn (n.)

also short-horn, "one of a breed of cattle having very short horns," by 1847, from short (adj.) + horn (n.). Related: Short-horned.

shorty (n.)

"short person," 1888, from short (adj.) + -y (3).

shortly (adv.)

Middle English shortli, "for a brief time," from Old English scortlice "briefly," also, in late Old English, "in short time; concisely;" see short (adj.) + -ly (2). By 1815 as "curtly, abruptly."

shortlist (v.)

"to place (someone) on the 'short list' " for advancement or preferment, 1955, from short list (n.) in this sense, which is attested by 1927; see short (adj.) + list (n.1).

short-lived (adj.)

"having a brief existence, not being in long continuance," 1580s, from short (adj.) + past tense of live (v.). A Middle English manuscript has short-livi "short-lived" (mid-13c.).

short-order (adj.)

in restaurants, indicating dishes to be prepared and served up quickly, by 1897, from the adverbial expression in short order "rapidly, with no fuss;" see short (adj.) + order (n.).

short-sighted (adj.)

also shortsighted, 1640s, of eyesight, "myopic, having distinct vision only when an object is near;" 1620s in the sense "lacking foresight, not considering remote consequences;" see short (adj.) + sight (n.). The noun short-sight is attested from 1820s. Related: Shortsightedly; shortsightedness.

short-sleeve (n.)

"sleeve which does not reach past the elbow," 1630s, from short (adj.) + sleeve. First recorded in an ordinance of Massachusetts Bay colony, forbidding "short sleeves, whereby the nakedness of the arme may be discovered." Related: Short-sleeved.

short-staff (n.)

1775, "a short cudgel used in a two-person fight," from short (adj.) + staff (n.). To be short-staffed "not adequately provided with personnel," is by 1953, from staff in the "group of employees" sense.

short-staple (adj.)

"having the fiber short," especially of cotton, 1802; see short (adj.) + staple (n.).

shortstop (n.)

also short-stop, 1837 in cricket ("player stationed behind the wicket-keeper at about 45 degrees to the wicket"); 1857 in baseball ("player stationed between second and third base"); from short (adj.) + stop (n.). In cricket there is a longstop, but in baseball there is none.

short-term (adj.)

"lasting for or pertaining to a relatively brief period of time," by 1876, from the noun phrase; see short (adj.) + term (n.).

short-timer (n.)

in the military sense of "one whose term or enlistment is about to expire," 1906, from short (adj.) + time (n.) + agent noun ending -er (1). Earlier "child who attends school part-time" (by 1863); "prostitute's customer" (1923). The noun phrase short time is attested by mid-14c.

short-wave (adj.)

in reference to radio wavelength less than c.100 meters, by 1907, from the noun phrase short wave, attested by 1839 in electromagnetics; see short (adj.) + wave (n.).

Shoshone

1805, noun and adjective (Lewis and Clark), in reference to Uto-Aztecan people of the Great Basin and their language, a name of unknown origin. It first was applied to eastern Shoshones of Wyoming according to Bright, who uses the spelling Shoshoni. Related: Shoshonean.

shot (adj.)

early 15c., of fish (implied in shotfish), "having discharged its spawn," past-participle adjective from shoot (v.). The meaning "wounded or killed by a bullet or other projectile" is from 1837.

The modern slang figurative sense of "ruined, used up, worn out" is attested by 1933, American English; the slang phrase shot to hell "in a state of collapse" is attested by 1926 (Hemingway).

shot (n.)

Middle English shot "a missile, arrow, dart" (senses now archaic or obsolete); "a swift movement, a gushing out," from Old English scot, sceot "a shot, a shooting, an act of shooting; that which is discharged in shooting, what is shot forth; darting, rapid motion."

This is from Proto-Germanic *skutan (source also of Old Norse skutr, Old Frisian skete, Middle Dutch scote, German Schuß "a shot"), from PIE root *skeud- "to shoot, chase, throw." The Old English noun is related to sceotan "to shoot." The meaning "discharge of a bow, missile," also is from related Old English gesceot.

The noun was extended to other projectiles (balls, bullets) by mid-15c. Especially "lead in small pellets, a small ball or pellet," a number of which are combined in one charge, which is attested by 1770 (shortened from earlier small shot, 1727).

The general sense of "an attempt to hit with a projectile" is by 1650s. Extended to sports (hockey, basketball, etc.) by 1772, originally in curling. It is attested by early 15c. as "range or distance of a missile in flight," hence "range" in general (c. 1600), as in earshot.

Another original meaning, "payment" (perhaps literally "money thrown down") is preserved in scot-free; also see scot (n.). The notion of "throwing down" might have led to the meaning "a drink," first attested 1670s; the more precise meaning "small drink of straight liquor" is by 1928.

The sense of "hypodermic injection" is attested from 1904; the figurative phrase shot in the arm "stimulant" is by 1922. The broad meaning "a try, an attempt" is by 1756; the sense of "remark meant to wound" is by 1841. The meaning "an expert in shooting with a firearm" is from 1780; the sense of "a rocket flight" is by 1934. The camera-view sense is by 1958.

To call the shots "control events, make decisions" is American English, 1922, perhaps from sport shooting. Shot in the dark "uninformed guess, random attempt" is by 1885. Big shot "important person" is from 1861.

shot-glass (n.)

"glass in which a small drink of strong liquor is taken," by 1955, from shot (n.) in the "small drink" sense (attested by 1928) + glass (n.).

shotgun (n.)

"gun made for firing small shot," 1821, American English, from shot (n.) in the sense of "lead in small pellets" (1770) + gun (n.).

In later use implying a smooth-bore gun as distinguished from a rifle, which fires bullets. Typically used for hunting small animals, etc. Included in "etc." is the image in shotgun wedding, a partially figurative phrase attested by 1903 in American English. Shotgun in reference to a house, shack, or other building with rooms all opening into a long, central hall is by 1938, probably so called from this arrangement. To ride shotgun is by 1905, from custom of having an armed man beside the driver on the stagecoach in the Old West to ward off trouble. The U.S. football offensive shotgun formation is attested by 1966.

shot-putting (n.)

by 1887 as "the sport or exercise of throwing a heavy metal weight like a cannon ball," from shot (n.) + present-participle of putt (v.). The sports use of shot is attested by 1881. Related: Shot-putter (by 1882).

shotten (adj.)

of a fish, "having shot its spawn," and accordingly of inferior value, early 15c., past-participle adjective from shoot (v.). Applied to persons, with sense of "exhausted by sickness," from 1590s. Also sometimes used of curdled milk.

should

c. 1200, from Old English sceolde, past tense of sceal (see shall). Preserves the original notion of "obligation" that has all but dropped from shall. Noun should-be "what ought to be" is by 1790.

shoulda

verbal phrase, by 1902, representing casual (American) pronunciation of should have. The use of a or 'a to represent a loose pronunciation of have as an auxiliary verb is attested from mid-14c. and was all but standard English until 17c. It pairs well with coulda and woulda.

shoulder (n.)

"region around the joint where the arm connects to the trunk of the body," Middle English shulder, from Old English sculdor "shoulder of a person," from West Germanic *skuldro (source also of Middle Dutch scouder, Dutch schouder, Old Frisian skoldere, Middle Low German scholder, Old High German scultra, German Schulter), a word of unknown origin which is perhaps related to the source of shield (n.).

Figuratively, "sustaining power, strength to support burdens," in Old English. The meaning "edge of the road" is attested from 1933. Shoulder-blade "the scapula" is by c. 1300. Shoulder-length, in reference to hair, is from 1951. Shoulder-strap (n.) is by 1680s. To stand shoulder-to-shoulder (1580s) originally was of soldiers in formation. Phrase over the shoulder, indicating ironic statement, a meaning the reverse of what is being said, is by 1590s. To cry on (someone's) shoulder in the figurative sense is by 1935.

shoulder (v.)

c. 1300, shulderen, "to push with the shoulder," from shoulder (n.). The meaning "take a burden" (as upon the shoulders) is attested by 1580s. The military sense of "carry (a musket) upright and resting against the hollow of the shoulder" is by 1590s. Related: Shouldered; shouldering.

shout (n.)

"a loud call, a vehement and sudden cry," also sometimes "clamor, uproar;" mid-14c., from shout (v.).

shout (v.)

c. 1300, shouten, schowten "to call or cry out loudly," a word of unknown origin; perhaps from the root of shoot (v.) on the notion of "throw the voice out loudly," or related to Old Norse skuta "a taunt" (compare scout (v.2)); both of which are reconstructed to be from PIE root *skeud- "to shoot, chase, throw."

The transitive sense of "utter in a loud and vehement voice" is by late 14c. Related: Shouted; shouting. To be all over but (the) shouting when the outcome appears certain is by 1834.

shove (n.)

"a strong push; an act of shoving," early 14c., shouve, from shove (v.).

shove (v.)

"push along by direct, continuous strength; attempt to move by pushing," Middle English shouven, from Old English scufan, sceofan "push away, thrust, push with violence" (class II strong verb; past tense sceaf, past participle scoven), from Proto-Germanic *skūbanan (source also of Old Norse skufa, Old Frisian skuva, Dutch schuiven, Old High German scioban, German schieben "to push, thrust," Gothic af-skiuban), from PIE root *skeubh- "to shove" (source also of scuffle, shuffle, shovel; likely cognates outside Germanic include Lithuanian skubti "to make haste," skubinti "to hasten").

It has been replaced by push in all but colloquial and nautical usage. The intransitive sense of "press or push forward" was in Old English. Related: Shoved; shoving.

Shove off "leave" (1844) is from the boating sense of "cause to move away from shore by pushing with poles or oars (c. 1600). Shove the queer (1859) was an old expression for "to counterfeit money." Shove it had an earlier sense of "depart" before it became a rude synonym for stick it (by 1941) with implied destination.

shovel (v.)

"take up and move with a shovel," mid-15c., shovelen, from shovel (n.). Often especially "move or throw in large quantities hastily and inelegantly." Related: Shoveled; shoveling. Compare German schaufeln, verb from noun. Shoveler (also shovelard) as a kind of duck is from mid-15c.

shovel (n.)

"instrument consisting of a broad scoop or curved blade with a handle," Middle English shovel, from Old English scofl, sceofol "shovel," from Proto-Germanic *skublo (source also of Old Saxon skufla, Swedish skovel, Middle Low German schufle, Middle Dutch shuffel, Dutch schoffel, Old High German scuvala, German Schaufel). The Old English noun is related to scufan "push away, thrust, push with violence" (see shove (v.)). Shovel-ready, with reference to construction projects, is attested by 2006.

shovelful (n.)

"as much as a shovel can hold or lift at one time," 1530s, from shovel (n.) + -ful.

show (v.)

Middle English sheuen, from Old English sceawian "to look at, see, gaze, behold, observe; inspect, examine; look for, choose," from Proto-Germanic *skauwojanan (source also of Old Saxon skauwon "to look at," Old Frisian skawia, Dutch schouwen, Old High German scouwon "to look at"), from Proto-Germanic root *skau- "behold, look at," from PIE *skou-, variant of root *keu- "to see, observe, perceive."

The causal meaning "let be seen; put in sight, make known" evolved c. 1200 for unknown reasons, seems to be unique to English (German schauen still means "look at"), and in a century displaced the older meaning. The sense of "explain, make clear" is from c. 1300, as the intransitive sense of "be seen, appear."

The spelling shew, popular 18c. and surviving into early 19c., represents an obsolete pronunciation (rhymes with view). The horse-racing sense of "finish third or in the top three" is by 1903, perhaps from an earlier sense in card-playing.

show (n.)

c. 1300, sceu, schewe, "act of exhibiting to view," from show (v.).

The meaning "an elaborately prepared display or spectacle to entertain a crowd" is recorded by 1560s. That of "an exhibition of strange objects, trivial performances, etc." is by 1760, hence "any kind of public display or gathering" (by 1830). The sense of "entertainment program on radio" is by 1932, later of television.

The sense of "appearance put on with intention to deceive" is recorded from 1520s. That of "ostentatious display" is from 1713 (showy is from 1712). The meaning "third place in a horse race" is from 1925, American English (see the verb). In military slang, "battle," by 1892 (Kipling).

Show of hands "raising of hands as an indication of the sense of a meeting, etc." is attested from 1789; Phrase for show "for appearance's sake" is from c. 1700.

Show business is attested from 1850; the short form show biz turns up in Variety magazine headlines by 1925. The actor's creed the show must go on (scil. despite difficulties or calamities) is attested from 1890. Show-stopper "act that wins so much applause as to pause the show" is by 1926; show trial for one likely prejudiced and pre-judged, but done nonetheless with great publicity, is attested by 1937.

show-and-tell (n.)

elementary school teaching tool, 1950 (from 1948 as share-and-tell), American English, from the verbal phrase; see show (v. ) + tell (v.).

show-bill (n.)

also showbill, "placard or advertisement announcing a performance, goods for sale, etc.," by 1801; see show (n.) + bill (n.1).

showboat (n.)

also show-boat, 1838, "river steamer on which theatrical performances are given," from show (n.) + boat (n.). The verb meaning "to show off" is attested from 1951; the notion is of performing in the overly theatrical style of showboat players.

showcase (n.)

also show-case, "glass case for exhibiting small or delicate valuable things," 1835; see show (v.) + case (n.2). In the extended sense of "place or medium for presenting (something, someone) favorably to an audience," it is attested by 1937. The verb is recorded by 1945. Related: Showcased; showcasing.

showdown (n.)

also show-down, 1873 in card-playing (especially poker) a slang term for the act of laying down the hands face-up, from show (v.) + down (adv.). Figurative sense of "final confrontation" is by 1904.

shower (n.2)

"one who or that which shows or exhibits," Middle English sheuer "watchman, overseer" (senses now obsolete), later "revealer, interpreter, one who points out or exhibits" (c. 1300), from Old English sceawere "spectator, watcher; mirror," agent noun; see show (v.), also for the sense evolution.

shower (n.1)

Middle English shour, from Old English scur, scura "a short fall of rain, storm, tempest; fall of missiles or blows; struggle, commotion; breeze," from Proto-Germanic *skuraz (source also of Old Norse skur, Old Saxon and Old Frisian scur "fit of illness;" Old High German scur, German Schauer "shower, downpour;" Gothic skura, in skura windis "windstorm"), from PIE root *kew-(e)ro- "north, north wind" (source also of Latin caurus "northwest wind;" Old Church Slavonic severu "north, north wind;" Lithuanian šiaurus "raging, stormy," šiaurys "north wind," šiaurė "north").

By Middle English in the general sense of "a copious supply bestowed": Of blood, tears, etc., from c. 1400. Of meteors from 1835. Sense of "bath in which water is poured from above" is recorded by 1851 (short for shower-bath, itself attested from 1803). The meaning "large number of gifts bestowed on a bride" (1904, American English colloquial) later was extended to the party at which it happens (1926). Shower-curtain is attested from 1914.

shower (v.)

1570s, "come down in showers;" 1580s, "to discharge a shower on; wet copiously with or as with liquid sprayed," from shower (n.1). Intransitive sense of "take a shower" is by 1930. Related: Showered; showering.

showery (adj.)

"raining in showers; abounding in showers," 1590s, from shower (n.) + -y (2). Related: Showeriness.

showgirl (n.)

"An actress whose role is decorative rather than histrionic" [OED], by 1833, from show (n.) + girl. Earlier "a pretty, talented girl; girl fit to model styles or behavior," by 1816.

showy (adj.)

1712, of visible things, "making a striking appearance, brilliant; gaudy," from show (n.) + -y (2). Related: Showily; showiness. Originally in a positive sense. Of persons, "ostentatious, given to display," by 1782.

showman (n.)

"one who presents shows," especially a proprietor of a travelling exhibition, 1734, from show (n.) + man (n.).

showmanship (n.)

"the skills and arts of one who presents shows to public audiences for admission," 1859, from showman "one who presents shows" + -ship.

show-off (n.)

1776, "a display," from the verbal phrase, attested by 1793 as "make a conspicuous and obvious display;" see show (v.) + off (adv.). From 1801 as "a deliberate and ostentatious display;" in reference to the person who makes such a display, attested from 1924. The noun showing-off "ostentatious display" is from 1874.

show-place (n.)

also showplace, "place for public exhibitions; place much-visited for beauty or fineness," 1794, from show (v.) + place (n.). In late 16c.-17c. also "a theater."

showroom (n.)

"room for display of furniture and other goods for sale to attract customers," 1610s, from show (v.) + room (n.). Show-window "window in a shop arranged for the display of goods" is by 1826.

show up (v.)

verbal phrase, by 1826 as "to disgrace through exposure;" see show (v.) + up (adv.). The meaning "to put in an appearance, be (merely) present" is by 1888. The noun sense of "an exposure of something concealed" is by 1830, colloquial.

shrank

past tense of shrink (v.).

shrapnel (n.)

1806, "a shell filled with bullets and s small bursting charge," from the name of Gen. Henry Shrapnel (1761-1842), who invented such a shell as a lieutenant in the Royal Artillery during the Peninsular War. The invention consisted of a hollow cannon ball, filled with shot, which burst in mid-air in front of the enemy; his name for it was spherical case ammunition.

The modern erroneous use in reference to what are properly shell fragments is from 1940 and the Blitz. The surname is attested from 13c., and is believed to be a metathesized form of Charbonnel, a diminutive form of Old French charbon "charcoal," in reference to complexion, hair color, or some other quality.

shredded (adj.)

"torn into shreds," 1570s, past-participle adjective from shred (v.). Shredded wheat, grain cut into long filaments, frequently eaten for breakfast, is recorded from 1885.

shred (n.)

Middle English shrede "scrap or fragment; strip hanging from a garment," from Old English screade "piece cut off, cutting, scrap," from Proto-Germanic *skraudōn- (source also of Old Frisian skred "a cutting, clipping," Middle Dutch schroode "shred," Middle Low German schrot "piece cut off," Old High German scrot, "scrap, shred, a cutting, piece cut off," German Schrot "log, block, small shot," Old Norse skrydda "shriveled skin"), from PIE *skreu- "to cut; cutting tool," extension of root *sker- (1) "to cut."

shred (v.)

Middle English shreden, "chop, cut up into small strips or slices," from Old English screadian "to peel, prune, cut off," from Proto-Germanic *skraud- (source also of Middle Dutch scroden, Dutch schroeien, Old High German scrotan, German schroten "to shred"), from root of shred (n.). In reference to the destruction of documents, by 1906. Related: Shredded; shredding.

shredder (n.)

"knife, machine, or other device for shredding," 1570s, agent noun from shred (v.). In the paper-disposal sense by 1950.

shrew (n.)

[small insectivorous mammal; malignant woman], Middle English shreue, which is recorded only in the sense of "rascal, evil-doer; scolding woman; undisciplined child;" which is apparently from Old English screawa "shrew-mouse," a word of uncertain origin.

OED calls the word's absence in the "animal" sense from Old English to the 16c. "remarkable." It gives the two words separate entries (2nd ed. print) and speculates that the "malignant person" sense might be original. Perhaps it is from Proto-Germanic *skraw-, from PIE *skreu- "to cut; cutting tool" (see shred (n.)), in reference to the shrew's pointed snout. An alternative Old English word for it was scirfemus, from sceorfan "to gnaw." Middle English Compendium points to Middle High German shröuwel, schrowel, schrewel "devil."

The specific meaning "peevish, malignant, clamorous, spiteful, vexatious, turbulent woman" [Johnson's definition] is c. 1300, from earlier sense of "spiteful person" (male or female), mid-13c., which is traditionally said to derive from some supposed malignant influence of the animal, which was once believed to have a venomous bite and was held in superstitious dread (compare beshrew). Shrews were paired with sheep from 1560s through 17c. as the contrasting types of wives.

shrewd (adj.)

c. 1300, shreued, "wicked, depraved, malicious, evil," from shrewe "wicked man" (see shrew) + -ed. Compare crabbed from crab (n.), dogged from dog (n.), wicked from witch (n.), all from early Middle English.

The weaker or neutral sense of "cunning, sly, artful, clever or keen-witted in practical affairs," hence "acute, sagacious" is recorded from 1510s. Related: Shrewdly; shrewdness. Strutt's "Sports and Pastimes of the People of England" (1801) and a mid-15th century list of terms of association have a shrewdness of apes for a company or group of them. Shrewdie "cunning person" is by 1916.