1602 (first attested in "Hamlet" iii.2), noun use of adjective sheene "beautiful, bright," from Old English scene, from Proto-Germanic *skauniz (cf. Old High German skoni, German schön, Old Frisian skene, Middle Dutch scone, Dutch schoon, Gothic skaunja "beautiful"), from PIE root *skeue- "to pay attention, perceive" (see caveat).