chute 1
/shooht/ , n. , v. , chuted, chuting .
n.
1. an inclined channel, as a trough, tube, or shaft, for conveying water, grain, coal, etc., to a lower level.
2. a waterfall or steep descent, as in a river.
3. a water slide, as at an amusement park.
4. a steep slope, as for tobogganing.
5. 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.
v.t.
6. 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.
v.i.
7. to descend by or as if by means of a chute.
[ 1715-25; cheoite a fall, nominalized fem. ptp. of cheoir to fall ( cadere, for L cadere; cf. CADENCE, CASE 1 ), with vowel of MF chue, OF cheue, a variant ptp.; some senses influenced by SHOOT ]
chute 2
/shooht/ , n. , v. , chuted, chuting .
n.
1. a parachute.
v.i.
2. to descend from the air by or as if by a parachute.
v.t.
3. to drop from an aircraft by means of a parachute: Supplies were chuted to the snowbound mountain climbers.
[ 1915-20, Amer.; by shortening ]