Outshone or outshined?

I've tried to search whether I should use "outshined" or "outshone".

My spellcheck underlines "outshined", but dictionary.com suggests I can use either. Which one should it be?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/outshined

Solution 1:

I would use "outshone" as it is used more often than "outshined".

EDIT: However this ngram may be inaccurate as there is a song called "Outshined".

Solution 2:

Collins gives the usage note I'd expect for the form 'shined' [past tense]:

shine vb, shines, shining or shone

1. (intr) to emit light
2. (intr) to glow or be bright with reflected light
3. (tr) to direct the light of (a lamp, etc): he shone the torch in my eyes.
4. (tr; past tense and past participle shined) to cause to gleam by polishing: to shine shoes.
5. ...

I'd say that this licenses 'outshined' only if you were comparing the efforts of two shoeshine boys or valets, or, in the US at least [see Peter's comment], indicating a greater proficiency in the use of a torch. Both of which seem marginal senses.