Shooter, subs. (colloquial).—Generic. Thus (1) = a revolver: also, according to capacity, a five, six, or seven-shooter; (2) = the guard of a mail coach (old): he was armed with a blunderbuss; (3) = a shooting star; (4) = a shooting-stick (printers'); a piece of hard word or metal used with a mallet for tightening quoins in a chase; (5) = a ball (cricket) bowled full pitch but shooting in close to the ground; and (6) = a black morning coat (Harrow) as distinguished from the tail coat worn by the Fifth and Sixth Forms.
d.1633. G. Herbert, Artillery. But I have also stars, and shooters too.
1840. Thackeray, Shabby Genteel Story. He had a word for the hostler about that grey mare, a nod for the shooter or guard.
1899. Scarlet City, 107. Miss Winks took the terrible shooter with a trembling hand. 'You're sure it's not loaded?' she ejaculated.
Shooter's-hill, subs. phr.
(venery).—The mons veneris:
see Venus. Hence, to take a
turn on shooter's-hill = to
copulate: see Greens and Ride.
Shooting-iron, subs. phr. (common).—A
gun or revolver.
1847. Porter, Quarter Race, 135. He said his old shooting-iron would go off at a good imitation of a bear's breathing!
1848. Burton, Waggeries, 175. This antique shooting-iron had not been visible on board the boat.
1871. De Vere, Americanisms. . . . His rifle . . . he loves with almost tender affection . . . and speaks of it as a shooting-iron. . . . The more recent revolver, now quite common in the West, is, on the other hand, his five or six shooter.
1888. Harper's Mag., lxxvi. 78. Timothy . . . drew his shooting-iron . . . cocking it with a metallic click.
1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxx. Hev' ye nary shootin' iron?
1894. To-Day, 21 Ap., 351, 1. Say, what's that for? you've emptied yure shooting iron into him; what's he done?
1897. Mitford, Romance Cape Frontier, ii. v. We'll just get out our shooting-irons and go and see.
1902. Kernahan, Scoundrels and Co., xxiii. Keep your shooting irons, Mr. Hall . . . I've got a brace of my own in my pocket.
Shooting-stars, subs. phr. (common).—Dizziness:
as caused by
a blow.
Shop, subs. and verb. (colloquial).—1.
Generic for a place: of
residence, business, manufacture,
engagement, or resort (in
quot. 1590 = the body); and (2)
one's profession, business or occupation.
Spec. (old, and thieves')
= (3) a prison (B. E. and Grose):
whence, as verb. = to imprison, to
confine (B. E. and Grose);
4. (army) = a guardroom:
also see quot. 1890; and
5. (racing) a place: whence to
be shopped (or get a shop) =
to come in first, second, or third;
and (6) to kill, to burke (q.v.).
Whence, to talk shop =
to talk business in society:
Fr. parler boutique; to sink
the shop = to refrain from
shop-talk; shoppy (or full of
the shop) = wholly engrossed in
business matters; the other
shop = a rival (trader, establishment,
&c.).
1548. Patten, Exped. to Scotl. [Arber (Eng. Garner, iii. 86)]. They had likewise shopped up themselves in the highest of their house.
1563. Foxe, Acts and Monuments [Cattley] iv. 652 [Oliphant, New Eng. i. 541. Foxe wishes that More had kept himself in his own shop (profession); hence our 'talk shop'].
1590. Spenser, Fairy Queen, ii. i. 43. Then [he] gan softly feel Her feeble pulse . . . he hoped faire To call backe life to her forsaken shop.
