Middle English Dictionary Entry
shẹ̄ter(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | shẹ̄ter(e n. Also shetor, sheoter, (SW) ssetare, (K) ssietere & shot(t)er, shuter(e & (in names) cheter, sheuter, shiter, sciter, scotere, shotiere, shuetere, shutter. |
| Etymology | OE scēotere; also cp. ME shẹ̄ten v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who shoots arrows or other missiles from a bow, an arbalest, etc.; an archer; also, a hunter; ?also, one who casts a spear [quots.: a1382, 2nd & 3rd]; fig. the devil [quot.: ?a1425]; man ~; (b) ~ eu, a yew tree as characterized by its use in making bows; (c) astrol. the constellation Sagittarius, the zodiacal sign; (d) as surname; (e) in place names [see Smith PNElem.2.108].
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(Hrl 2277)470/186 : Hi come wiþ wepne him to helpe..Euerech wiþ such maner wepne as we vsieþ alyue..schutere wiþ bowe & knyue.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7482 : Þe ssetare [vr. schetors; B: scheoteres] donward..vaste slowe to gronde, So þat harald þoru þen eie issote was deþes wounde.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)174/12 : Ase þe ssyetere, þe more þet he draȝt his boȝe, þe harder he smit.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 31.3 : Þer foleweden hym men scheeteris & he is woundid hidously of þe archeris.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Kings 11.24 : Þe scheteris [WB(2): archeris; L sagittarii] dresseden dartis [L jacula] to þi seruauntis fro þe wal aboue.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Par.10.3 : Þe bataile is agreggid aȝens Saul & þer foundyn hym men scheteris & woundedyn with dartis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)41a/b : Scheters..closeþ þe on eiȝe for to schete þe more euene.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3607 : Esau..þou ert schotter [Göt: archer] wit þe beist.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)24/20 : Þe iȝe of þi soule..ficchid þer-apon, as þe iȝe of a schoter is apon þe prik þat he schoteþ to.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)175/8 : For þe arowe, if it fynde no place where it may entre, it turneþ aȝein to þe scheter.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)445 : Schetare, or archare: Sagittarius.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)76b : Schot and castynge of alle manere wepoun is hardere and scharpere rennynge þan stondinge stille; and þerfore scheteres & casteres moot haue large space.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57227 : Item, govyn to shoterys the sayd day, at Spaldyng, iiij d.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1104/7 : They were all shooters and cowde well kylle a dere at the stalke.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)338 : A Schuter: sagittator.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.80va : Olyfernes assemblyd dukes and maistres of the strength of Nabugodonosor and nombred C xx M fote men and horsmen shoters [L (Vulg.Judith 2.7): equites sagittarios] xii M.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)87/29 : Stablissh..in the myddes a kynde of shoters, and of casters of wepen, shetyng fire and al-maner of shot.
b
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)180 : Overal..Were trees clad with leves..The shetere ew, the asp for shaftes pleyne, [etc.].
c
- (c1386) Almanac 1386 [OD col.]1 : The Schoter es þe principal howce of Jupit.; the Capricorn es þe principal howce of Saturne.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)35 : Þe signes super celestial expressid ful weel in whech tymes of þe ȝer þe sunne passith be hem, As in januari be þe signe þei clepe aquari..in novembir be þe scheter.
d
- (1148) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames318 : Robert scotere.
- (1249) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms161 : Rob. le Scheter.
- (1255) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames318 : Stephen le Shotiere.
- (1275) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames318 : Henry Schuetere.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 2133 : Stephano Scheter.
- (1317) Close R.Edw.II402 : Geoffrey le Shuter.
- (1320) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames318 : Henry le Shotter.
- (1327) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames318 : John le Schotiere.
- (1332) Sub.R.War.in Dugd.Soc.611 : Simon le Shutter.
- (1379) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames318 : John Schewter.
- (1428) Feudal Aids 1185 : Johannes Sheter.
e
- (1226) in Wallenberg PNKent3 : Shitereshell.
- (1232) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)177 : Scitershul.
- (1278) in Wallenberg PNKent3 : Chetersheld.
- (1281) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)177 : Schytereshulle.
- (1331) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)177 : Shetershelde.
- (1382) in Rymer's Foedera (1816-69)4.155 : Apud quendam locum vocatum Shoteresheld in comitatu Kantiæ.
- (1394) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)177 : Shetereshill.