chute1
[shoot]
- an inclined channel, as a trough, tube, or shaft, for conveying water, grain, coal, etc., to a lower level.
- a waterfall or steep descent, as in a river.
- a water slide, as at an amusement park.
- a steep slope, as for tobogganing.
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- to move or deposit, by or as if by means of a chute: The dock had facilities for chuting grain directly into the hold of a vessel.
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- to descend by or as if by means of a chute.
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- out of the chute, at the start; at the very beginning: The new business made mistakes right out of the chute and failed within a year.
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Origin of chute1
1715–25; < French, Middle French, representing Old French cheoite a fall, nominalized feminine past participle of cheoir to fall (< Vulgar Latin *cadēre, for Latin cadere; cf. cadence, case1), with vowel of Middle French chue, Old French cheue, a variant past participle; some senses influenced by shoot1
chute2
[shoot]
- a parachute.
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- to descend from the air by or as if by a parachute.
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- to drop from an aircraft by means of a parachute: Supplies were chuted to the snowbound mountain climbers.
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Origin of chute2
An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; by shortening
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for chute
Contemporary Examples
Lane rose, but then he motioned to the chute, where the other cowboys were sitting astride the fences.
Some get hurt in the chute, which fits the bull like a coffin.
Say what you will about the Israelis, but they are not slow out of the chute.
Historical Examples
Even if you're already dead, pull the ripcord ring of your chute!
Lords of the StratosphereArthur J. Burks
It stops, in its turn, before a chute of smooth granite in the form of a bowl.
The Trimming of GoosieJames Hopper
I'll get ya the plane and chute if y'll put up a deposit to cover the cost.
DisownedVictor Endersby
As the door swung open, he threw the 'chute out toward the ground.
The Great DroughtSterner St. Paul Meek
This chute, Fuller had said, led to the outside at the back of the reduction plant.
Vulcan's WorkshopHarl Vincent
chute1
- an inclined channel or vertical passage down which water, parcels, coal, etc, may be dropped
- a steep slope, used as a slide as for toboggans
- a slide into a swimming pool
- a narrow passageway through which animals file for branding, spraying, etc
- a rapid or waterfall
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Word Origin
C19: from Old French cheoite, feminine past participle of cheoir to fall, from Latin cadere; in some senses, a variant spelling of shoot
chute2
- informal short for parachute
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for chute
n.1
1725, American English, "fall of water" (earlier shoot, 1610s), from French chute "fall," from Old French cheoite "a fall," fem. past participle of cheoir "to fall," from Latin cadere (see case (n.1)). Meaning "inclined tube, trough" is from 1804; that of "narrow passage for cattle, etc." first recorded 1881. In North America, absorbing some senses of similar-sounding shoot (n.1).
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n.2
short for parachute (n.), attested from 1920.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper