The word "shute" may seem like a peculiar spelling of "shoot", but it does have its own distinction. In phonetic transcription, "shute" is /ʃuːt/, while "shoot" is /ʃuːt/ or /ʃɪt/. The difference lies in the emphasis of the "oo" sound. In "shute", the "oo" sound is pronounced longer, emphasizing the "u" sound, while in "shoot", the emphasis is more on the "i" sound. While "shute" may not be a commonly used spelling, it does have its place in language and should be acknowledged.
The etymology of the word "shute" is unclear, as it does not have a well-documented origin. "Shute" is a variation of the word "shoot" and is primarily used in British English to refer to a narrow passage or chute. It is possible that "shute" originated as a regional or dialectal alteration of "shoot", possibly influenced by other words with similar meanings such as "chute" or "shout". However, without extensive historical evidence, the precise etymology remains speculative.