Shut Down is a menu command in the Special menu in the Macintosh file system, Finder.

The Shut Down command turns off your Mac directly, unless it doesn't support soft power (in which case makes it safe for you to turn off your Macintosh); and, in versions of the Macintosh system software and Mac OS between System 7.5 and Mac OS 9.2.2, executes items in the Shutdown Items folder prior to system shutdown.

This command was not part of the original Macintosh system software -- System 1 -- but it quickly debuted in System 2.

The Shut Down command has moved over to the Apple menu beginning with Mac OS X.