E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Shot.
Hand out your shot or Down with your shot—your reckoning or quota, your money. (Saxon, sceat; Dutch, schot.) (See SCOT AND LOT.)
1
“As the fund of our pleasure, let us each pay his shot.”
Ben Jonson.
He shot wide of the mark. He was altogether in error. The allusion is to shooting at the mark or bull’s-eye in archery, but will now apply to our modern rifle practice.
