An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/schützen

by Friedrich Kluge

schützen, vb., ‘to protect, guard, defend, shelter,’ from MidHG. schützen, ‘to embank, dam up, protect,’ which, according to MidHG. beschüten, ‘to protect,’ implies OHG. *skutisôn. The prim. meaning is evident from MidHG. schüte, schüt, f., ‘earth-wall’ which is identical with Schutt.