gun-shyadj.
/ˈɡʌnʃʌɪ/, U.S. /ˈɡənˌʃaɪ/ Afraid of a gun; frightened at the report of a gun: said esp. of a sporting dog.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > fear of particular things > [adjective] > afraid of a gun
gun-shy1884
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > dogs used for specific purposes > [adjective] > of sporting or hunting dog
working1577
flying1684
pointing1745
faulting1837
short-running1853
short-working1853
gun-shy1884
trencher-fed1887
trial-bred1948
1884 T. Speedy Sport in Highlands iv. 50 The first birds shot at over a gun-shy dog should certainly be killed.
1893 S. Bonsal Morocco 210 The Shereefian soldiers are far too gunshy to attack an armed foe.
1893 F. C. Selous Trav. S.-E. Afr. 16 Another..though an excellent horse for a journey, was so gun shy I could do nothing with him.
1894 Field 9 June 818/2 The first time I took the dog out he was inclined to be gun shy.
1938 C. Day Lewis Overtures to Death 59 He was gun~shy, Hating all quarrels.
1957 R. Campbell Portugal 116 The gun-shy poets of the ‘left wing’.
Derivatives
ˈgunshyness n. the condition of being gun-shy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > fear of particular things > [noun] > fear of a gun
gunshyness1890
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > dogs used for specific purposes > [noun] > sporting or hunting dog > gun shyness
gunshyness1890
1890 Q. Rev. Oct. 427 Gunshyness [in dogs] is one of the worst difficulties with which sportsmen have to contend.
1960 C. Day Lewis Buried Day v. 91 What caused this gun-shyness, I have no idea.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
<
adj.1884