† ˈhail-shot Obs.
[f. hail n.1 + shot n.]
1. Small shot which scatters like hail when fired: used in distinction from a ball or bullet.
| 1485 Naval Accts. Hen. VII (1896) 69 Hayle shotte xl. 1555 Eden Decades 114 Owre men were enforced to shute of their byggest pieces of ordinaunce with hayleshotte. 1686 Lond. Gaz. No. 2120/8 The discharge of a Pistol loaden with Hail-shot. 1708 Motteux Rabelais iv. lxii. (1737) 253 Little Pellets like Hail-shot. 1830 Scott Doom Devorgoil ii. ii, Every hint Is lost on him, as hail-shot on the cormorant. |
| fig. a 1656 Hales Gold. Rem. (1688) 193 He shoots his Hail-shot, with his Hail-stones from Heaven. 1680 H. More Apocal. Apoc. 318 All this hailshot flyes quite over my head. |
2. The discharge of such shot. Also
fig.| 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 1364 There came such thicke Hayleshot of Artillery out of the Towne. 1696 Tryon Misc. i. 21 To do them good, I shall venter the Hail-shot of their Tongues. |
3. attrib., as
hail-shot drop.
| 1598 Marston Pygmal. iv. 151 And weepe for anger that the earth was dry..that all the haile-shot drops Could neuer peirce the christiall water tops. |