shotten

American  

[shot-n] / ˈʃɒt n /

adjective

1. (of fish, especially herring) having recently ejected the spawn.

2. Obsolete. (of a bone) dislocated.

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shotten British  

/ ˈʃɒtən /

adjective

1. (of fish, esp herring) having recently spawned

2. archaic worthless or undesirable

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Etymology

Origin of shotten

1175–1225; Middle English, past participle of shoot ¹

Example Sentences

Though Shaw never settled on any of the many alphabets proposed to him, he did favor one that would have made the sentence "From Dodderdyke to Pope Shotten is sixteen miles or thereabout" look like: For the week starting Thursday, Feb. 28.

From Time Magazine Archive

His exclamations against Cowardice, his reference to his own manhood, “Die when thou wilt, old Jack, if manhood, good manhood, be not forgot upon the face of the earth, then am I a shotten herring”: These, and various expressions such as these, would be absurdities not impositions, Farce not Comedy, if not calculated to conceal some defect supposed unknown to the hearers; and these hearers were, in the present case, his constant companions, and the daily witnesses of his conduct.

From Project Gutenberg

I have paid Shotten's bill for last term this week, and I know that Travers and James have not much more than I have.

From Project Gutenberg

They two bold children shotten together, All day theirself in rank, Until they came to black water, And over it laid a plank.

From Project Gutenberg

Forth then shotten these children two, And they did never lin, Until they came to merry Churchlees, To merry Churchlees within.

From Project Gutenberg