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Origin of shut

before 1000; Middle English s(c)hutten, s(c)hetten, s(c)hitten Old English scyttan “to bolt (a door)”; akin to shoot1

synonym study for shut

1. See close.

OTHER WORDS FROM shut

half-shut, adjective re·shut, verb, re·shut, re·shut·ting. un·shut, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for shut up (1 of 2)

shut up

verb (adverb)

(tr) to prevent all access to
(tr) to confine or imprison
informal to cease to talk or make a noise or cause to cease to talk or make a noise: often used in commands
(intr) (of horses in a race) to cease through exhaustion from maintaining a racing pace

British Dictionary definitions for shut up (2 of 2)

shut
/ (ʃʌt) /

verb shuts, shutting or shut

adjective

closed or fastened

noun

Word Origin for shut

Old English scyttan; related to Old Frisian sketta to shut in, Middle Dutch schutten to obstruct

Idioms and Phrases with shut up (1 of 2)

shut up

1

Imprison, confine, enclose, as in The dog was shut up in the cellar for the night, or She shut up her memories and never talked about the past. [c. 1400]

2

Close completely, as in The windows were shut up tightly so no rain came in. [Early 1500s] This usage also occurs in shut up shop, meaning “close the premises of a business,” as in It's late, let's shut up shop now. [Late 1500s] Also see close up, def. 3.

3

Cause someone to stop speaking, silence someone, as in It's time someone shut him up. [Early 1800s]

4

Stop speaking, as in I've told you what I think and now I'll shut up. This usage also occurs as a rather rude imperative, as in Shut up! You've said enough. [First half of 1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with shut up (2 of 2)

shut