An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/schützen

by Friedrich Kluge

schützen, verb, ‘to protect, guard, defend, shelter,’ from Middle High German schützen, ‘to embank, dam up, protect,’ which, according to Middle High German beschüten, ‘to protect,’ implies Old High German *skutisôn. The primary meaning is evident from Middle High German schüte, schüt, feminine, ‘earth-wall’ which is identical with Schutt.