Middle English Dictionary Entry
shīten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | shīten v. Also shite; sg.3 shiteth, etc. & shit; p. shōt(e; ppl. shite(n, shitten, ishete, shetin, -un. |
| Etymology | OE *scītan, p. *scāt; cp. *bescītan, p.ppl. besciten. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To defecate, void excrement; (b) to void (excrement), emit (stench, refuse, etc.); also fig.; also in proverb; ~ mouth ful of tordes, fill one's mouth with excrement; ~ oute; (c) ppl. shiten as adj.: filthy, covered with excrement; shiten-arsed.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.157 : Whan þat hit þonneriþ, ȝe mote þer in schite.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.329 : Þey wolde digge þe erþe..and whanne þey hadde i-schete, þey wolde fille þe pitte aȝen.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)144a/b : Þis beest [bee] is ful clene more þan oþir beestes and þerfore sche schitiþ fleynge and nouȝt in hire hyue.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)12/19 : If he may not schite oones a day, helpe him þerto, or with clisterie, or wiþ suppositorie.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)62a/b : Stercoro: to shyte.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)143 : Esyn, or cukkyn, or schytyn: Stercoriso, merdo, egero.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)202 : Goo to pryvy, or to shytyn: Acello.
- a1450(?1409) Vision Staunton (Roy 17.B.43)70 : I saw the fendes turnyng here arses toward þe sowles, shytyng vppon hem.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1968 : Þei schul schytyn for fere.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)337 : He þat schytyth wyth hys hoyll..But he wyppe hys ars clen..On hys breche yt xall be sen.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)113a : To Schyte: Cacare, Egerere, Egestare.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.28.27 : Smyte þe þe lord wiþ þe bule of Egipt & þe parte of þe body by þe whiche tordys been shetyn out.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.441 : Oon of þe Assiries aspied þat doynge by oon þat hadde y-schete [vr. schite] golde.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.153 : Arrius..sched out his bowels and his lyf wiþ þe dritt þat he schoot [vr. schote].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)94b/b : Þanne þe pacient schitiþ fome wiþ blowen bolles.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)273b/b : Some wilde oxen beþ wonderliche huge..and swyfte, in so moche þat þe dritte þat he schiteþ in tornynge aboute falleþ on here hornes.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5661 : Þe addres shiteþ preciouse stones.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.264 : Thyne sheep are ner al shabbyd, þe wolf shiteþ [vr. shyt] woolle.
- a1450(?1409) Vision Staunton (Roy 17.B.43)65 : Y saw..fendes..shityng owt of here erses stench and fen.
- c1450 Ryl.Prov.& R.(Ryl Lat 394)106 : A sowre appul whan it is hoote Shytes out alle þat he woote.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)132 : I haue schetun yowr mowth full of turdys.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)568 : I haue sent hym forth to schyte lesynges.
c
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.504 : Shame it is if a preest take keep A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep.
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)191/157 : A villanye yt weare, iwys..to sley a shitten-arsed shrowe.