chute

views updated Jun 11 2018

chute1 / shoōt/ (also shoot) • n. a sloping channel or slide for conveying things to a lower level. ∎  a water slide into a swimming pool.chute2 • n. inf. a parachute. ∎  Sailing informal term for spinnaker.DERIVATIVES: chut·ist / ˈshoōtist/ n.

chute

views updated May 23 2018

chute rapid fall in a river; steep slope or channel down which stuff is shot. XIX. — F. chute fall, refash. of OF. cheoite, fem. sb. f. pp. of cheoir :- popL. *cadēre, for L. cadere fall; often extended to senses which originated with SHOOT or are still commonly so spelt.