shot·ten \ˈshätən\adjective Etymology: Middle English shotyn, from shoten, shotyn (past participle of sheten, shoten, shuten to shoot), from Old English gescoten 1. a.: having ejected the spawn and so of inferior food value < full or shotten herrings > < lean as a shotten herring > b.dialect (1): weakened, dispirited (2): good-for-nothing 2.obsolete: shot out of its socket < swayed in the back and shoulder shotten — Shakespeare >