shuttering
UK[ˈʃʌtərɪŋ]US[ˈʃʌtərɪŋ]
n
The action of closing something, especially a business, factory, or operation, often suddenly or permanently.
n
The wooden or metal framework used to hold wet concrete in place until it sets, in construction.
Morpheme Breakdown
shutter
ing
shutter
to close
ing
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'shuttering' is built upon the core action of closing. Its root, 'shut', traces back to Old English scyttan, meaning "to put a bolt in place, to close". The frequentative suffix '-er' was added in Middle English to form 'shutter', implying a repeated or agentive action of closing, as seen in a window shutter that opens and closes. The modern '-ing' suffix then nominalizes this action. The construction sense is a metaphorical extension: the temporary framework "closes in" or encloses the fluid concrete, holding it in a fixed form until it solidifies, much as shutting a door closes off an opening.
Analysis
Structure: shutter (to close) + ing (noun suffix)
shutter: From Middle English shuteren, a frequentative verb form of shutten (to shut), of Old English origin. Its functional role is the core verb root meaning "to close".
ing: A suffix of Old English origin used to form nouns from verbs, indicating an action, process, or result.
Examples
The sudden shuttering of the local factory left the town in economic despair.
The carpenters spent the morning assembling the plywood shuttering for the foundation walls.
News of the store's shuttering came as a shock to its loyal customers.