shutout
UK[ˈʃʌtaʊt]US[ˈʃʌtˌaʊt]
n
a game in which one side prevents the other from scoring any points.
n
the act of excluding someone from a group, activity, or place.
Morpheme Breakdown
shut
out
shut
to put a bolt in place, to close
out
out, outside, away
Etymology
the compound noun "shutout" is a transparent formation from the phrasal verb "to shut out," which has been in use since middle english. the verb "shut" originates from the old english scyttan, carrying the core sense of closing or barring. when combined with the adverbial particle "out," the phrase literally means "to close something so as to keep someone or something outside." by the mid-19th century, this verbal action was nominalized, first in general contexts meaning exclusion, and later becoming a specific term in north american sports for a game where one team is prevented from scoring.
Analysis
Structure: shut + out
- shut: from old english scyttan, meaning "to put a bolt in place, to close". functional role: verb root.
- out: from old english ūt, meaning "out, outside, away". functional role: adverbial particle.
Examples
the pitcher celebrated his third complete-game shutout of the season.
the policy created a shutout of smaller companies from the bidding process.
feeling the shutout from the social circle, she decided to find new friends.