shyn.¹

Brit.

/ʃʌɪ/, U.S.

/ʃaɪ/

Forms: Plural shies.

Etymology: < shy v.¹

A sudden start aside made by a horse when it sees an object that frightens it.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [noun] > shy or shying

shy1791

shying1796

flounder1867

1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsemanship ix. 42 [The horse] made a sort of a shy towards the cliff.

1857 C. Reade Course True Love 166 In the middle of a great shy which her mare made.

1908 Edinb. Rev. Oct. 472 We pass it by with a courteous bow which has in it something of a horse's shy at the uncanny.

figurative.1900 M. E. Wilkins Love of Parson Lord 35 He has stepped along in his path of duty without a kick or a shy.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

shyn.²

Brit.

/ʃʌɪ/, U.S.

/ʃaɪ/

Forms: Also rare shie. Plural shies.

Etymology: < shy v.²

colloquial.

a. A quick, jerking (or careless) throw, as of a stone, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > [noun] > quick or careless throw

shy1791

1791 J. Brand Observ. Pop. Antiq. (1813) I. 67 The person who throws..has three shys, or throws, for two pence.

1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 316 Jack-in-the-box—three shies a penny.

1849 W. S. Mayo Kaloolah (1850) ii. 25 Swinging his cap round his head, he gave it a shie over the lee quarter.

1854 W. Collins Hide & Seek I. vii. 194 I never remember wanting to throw a rotten egg at any of my fellow-creatures before—but I feel certain that I should enjoy having a shy at Mr. Jubber!

1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany xv. 245 When he was a boy, he..used to think it good fun to have a ‘shy’ at these windows.

b. Eton Football. A point scored in the ‘Wall’ game (see quot. 1881).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > other forms of football > [noun] > Eton > point

rouge1861

shy1868

1868 Field 28 Nov. 446/3 This match..ended in favour of the School by five shies to nothing.

1881 C. E. Pascoe Everyday Life in our Public Schools 54 Once behind this [calx] line, the player's object is to get it [the ball] up..with his foot against the wall and touch, when he gets a ‘shy’; that is, the privilege of throwing the ball at the goals, while the other side..defend them. Of course, if he succeeds in reaching the goals, he gets a goal... More generally the game is decided by the number of ‘shies’ got.

2. figurative.

a. An attempt to damage by sarcasm or verbal attack; a ‘fling’ at a person or thing.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > criticism > [noun] > instance of > sharp

quippy1519

quip1532

snack?1554

gird1566

pincha1568

quib1656

hitc1668

snapper1817

shy1840

shot1841

swipe1892

jab1905

licks1971

1840 T. De Quincey Mod. Superstition in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 563/1 If Rousseau thought fit to try such tremendous appeals by taking ‘a shy’ at any random object, he should have governed his sortilegy..with something more like equity.

1854 W. M. Thackeray Newcomes I. xvi. 158 ‘You are always having a shy at Lady Ann and her relations’, says Mr. Newcome... ‘A shy! How can you use such vulgar words, Mr. Newcome?’

1859 T. De Quincey Select. Grave & Gay Pref. Memorandum p. xvii The Doctor..resolved to ‘take a shy’, before parting, at the most consecrated of Milton's creations.

1873 B. Harte Washington in N. Jersey in Fiddletown 94 I'd like to get a shy at G. W. some time.

b. A trial, an experiment; a ‘shot’, a ‘go’.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > [noun] > an attempt

tastec1330

assayc1386

proffera1400

proof?a1400

pluck?1499

saymenta1500

minta1522

attemptate1531

attempt1548

attemption1565

say1568

trice1579

offer1581

fling1590

tempt1597

essay1598

trial1614

tentative1632

molition1643

conamen1661

put1661

tentamen1673

conatus1722

shot1756

go1784

ettle1790

shy1824

hack1830

try1832

pop1839

slap1840

venture1842

stagger1865

flutter1874

whack1884

whirl1884

smack1889

swipe1892

buck1913

lash1941

wham1957

play1961

the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > [noun] > an experiment > a (slight) trial of something

taste1390

smatch1628

tirlc1660

shy1824

1824 J. Badcock Boxiana IV. 149 ‘I am sure you are too generous to let a brave man want; and I never knew an appeal made here in vain.’ ‘Well, then, go it,’ echoed one of the East-enders; ‘I like to have a shy for my money.’ Half crowns, shillings, and sixpences were instantly thrown upon the stage.

1848 W. M. Thackeray Let. in Introd. to Pendennis in Wks. (1898) II. p. xxxiv Sometimes I have a shy myself, and I don't lose or win twenty francs.

1856 C. Dickens Little Dorrit (1857) ii. vi. 374 He would be all the better for a temporary shy at an entirely new scene and climate.

1881 C. Gibbon Heart's Probl. (1884) vi. 86 Have a shy at putting the case plainly to me.

1887 W. E. Henley Culture in Slums iii. 7 I've had at Pater many a shy.

a. One who throws, a thrower or shyer.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > [noun] > one who or that which

warperOE

castera1400

throwerc1450

flinger1598

tosser1612

jaculator1796

shy1884

shyer1895

slinger1902

1884 James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Ann. ii. iii. 103 A good field and shy.

Categories »

b. coconut shy: see coconut shy n. at coconut n. Compounds 3.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

shyadj.

Brit.

/ʃʌɪ/, U.S.

/ʃaɪ/

Forms: Old English scéoh (? inflected scíon), Middle English scheouh, scheowe, Middle English schey, 1500s shey, 1600s–1700s shie, shye, 1600s– shy.

Etymology: Old English scéoh (very rare; also in combination scéohmód of timid mind), corresponding to Middle High German schiech < Germanic type *skeuhwo- ; an ablaut variant (Germanic type *sku^gwu- , -wjo- ) appears in Middle Dutch schuwe , schu (modern Dutch schuw ), Norwegian dialect skygg , Middle Swedish, Danish sky ; the synonymous modern German scheu is a new formation after the related scheu (feminine) (Middle High German schiuhe ) fear, abhorrence, scheuen to be shy of, fear (Middle High German schiuhen to be shy of, avoid, also causatively to drive away, Old High German sciuhen to frighten); < Germanic root *skeuhw- to fear, to terrify, whence probably German schüchtern shy; for other derivatives of the root see shewel n. The affinities that have been suggested for the root are very doubtful. The phonetic development of modern English shy /ʃaɪ/ from Old English scéoh is parallel with that of thigh < þéoh . Divergent forms in dialects are shuff n. ( < Old English sceōh with rising diphthong) and skeigh adj. and adv. (with unexplained initial). It is noteworthy that the pronunciation /ɔɪ/ is current in many dialects in which /ɔɪ/ does not ordinarily correspond to the /aɪ/ of standard English.

†a. Easily frightened or startled. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective] > easily frightened or startled

shyOE

scaddle1483

ramageous?c1530

ramage1567

startling1599

startish1677

startful1790

willyart1818

starty1825

OE Riming Poem 43 Nu min hreþer is hreoh, heofsiþum sceoh, nydbysgum neah.

a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 108 Lokeð þet ȝe ne beon nout i liche ðe horse þet is scheouh. & blencheð uor one scheadewe... To scheowe heo beoð mid alle þet fleoð uor ane peinture.

c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 444/2 Schey, or skey, as hors, or styȝtyl.

1648 H. Hexham Groot Woorden-boeck Een Schouw paerdt, a Shye Horse, a Fearefull, Horse.

b. dialect. Of a horse: Skittish, unmanageable; high-mettled. Hence (?) of persons (see quot. a1855).Cf. the Old English gloss ‘scion, peculantis’ (read petulantis as in Aldhelm De Laud. Virg. 4705, to which the gloss refers) in Wright-Wülcker 517/16.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [adjective]

golec888

canga1225

light?c1225

wooinga1382

nicea1387

riota1400

wantonc1400

wrenec1400

lachesc1450

loose?a1500

licentious1555

libertine1560

prostitute1569

riggish1569

wide1574

slipper1581

slippery1586

sportive1595

gay1597

Cyprian1598

suburb1598

waggish1600

smicker1606

suburbian1606

loose-living1607

wantona1627

free-living1632

libertinous1632

loose-lived1641

Corinthian1642

akolastic1656

slight1685

fast1699

freea1731

brisk1740

shy1787

slang1818

randomc1825

fastish1832

loosish1846

slummya1860

velocious1872

fly1880

slack1951

the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [adjective] > rash or reckless

recklesseOE

redmodOE

unreckless?c1225

hastivec1300

racklec1300

testyc1374

rabbisha1387

temeraryc1410

temerous1461

rash1509

temerarious1532

hare-brained1548

temerarec1550

hare-brain1566

hot-spurred1573

overrash1577

hotspur1586

madcap1591

wretchless1598

Phaetontic1608

zeal-blind1615

Phaetontal1617

unresponsable1619

Phaetontical1630

phaetonicala1640

Phaetonic1708

hell-bent1731

harum-scarum1751

unresponsible1764

suicidal1768

rumgumptious1781

shy1787

devil-may-care1799

bullheaded1818

devil-may-carish1825

temeritous1892

kamikaze1952

the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective] > capricious or whimsical

startfulmood?a1300

wildc1350

volage?a1366

gerfulc1374

geryc1386

wild-headeda1400

skittishc1412

gerish1430

shittle1440

shittle-witted1448

runningc1449

volageous1487

glaikit1488

fantasious1490

giggish1523

tickle or light of the sear?1530

fantastical1531

wayward1531

wantona1538

peevish1539

light-headed1549

humoral1573

unstaid1579

shittle-headed1580

toy-headed1581

fangled1587

humorous1589

choiceful1591

toyish1598

tricksy1598

skip-brain1603

capricious1605

humoursome1607

planetary1607

vertiginous1609

whimsieda1625

ingiddied1628

whimsy1637

toysome1638

cocklec1640

mercurial1647

garish1650

maggoty1650

kicksey-winseya1652

freakish1653

humourish1653

planetic1653

whimsical1653

shittle-braineda1655

freaking1663

maggoty-headed1667

maggot-pated1681

hoity-toity1690

maggotish1693

maggot-headeda1695

whimsy-headed1699

fantasque1701

crotchetly1702

quixotic1718

volatile1719

holloweda1734

conundrumical1743

flighty1768

fly-away1775

dizzy1780

whimmy1785

shy1787

whimming1787

quirky1789

notional1791

tricksome1815

vagarish1819

freakful1820

faddy1824

moodish1827

mawky1837

erratic1841

rockety1843

quirkish1848

maggoty-pated1850

crotchetya1854

freaksome1854

faddish1855

vagrom1882

fantasied1883

vagarisome1883

on-and-offish1888

tricksical1889

freaky1891

hobby-horsical1893

quirksome1896

temperamental1907

up and down1960

untogether1969

fanciful-

fantastic-

1787 W. Marshall Provincialisms in Rural Econ. Norfolk II. 388 Shy, hare-brained; high-mettled; head-strong; as wild colts.

a1855 W. T. Spurdens Forby's Vocab. E. Anglia (1858) III. 45 Shy, wild in conduct... A shy boy, or a shy girl, is wanton, unsteady, amorous.

1860 J. C. Hotten Dict. Slang (ed. 2) (at cited word) Shy has also the sense of flighty, unsteady, untrustworthy.

2. Easily frightened away; difficult of approach owing to timidity, caution, or distrust; timidly or cautiously averse to encountering or having to do with some specified person or thing; suspicious, distrustful. Const. of.

a. of persons.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [adjective]

ortrowOE

truthlessa1200

untristc1374

mistrusty?a1425

overtrowinga1425

diffidenta1460

in suspicion1471

suspicionous1474

suspectious1521

mistrustful1529

surmising1535

distrusting1549

trustless?1550

mistrusting1552

misgiving1567

suspectfula1586

misdoubtful1596

distrustfula1600

shy1600

misdoubting1601

scrupulous1608

jealousa1616

umbratiousa1639

inconfident1667

suspecting1691

unconfiding1820

untrusting1861

defiant1872

leery1896

suspicionful1911

hincty1929

the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective] > shy

untrumc1315

scar1559

shy1600

willyarta1796

unadvancing1819

fawn-like1838

1600 R. Hakluyt tr. J. Gonzalez de Mendoça in Princ. Navigations (new ed.) III. 391 Certaine souldiers..caried away captiue certaine of the people of the countrey, which caused the rest of them to be so shey and fearefull.

1606 W. Warner Continuance Albions Eng. xvi. cv. 412 This noble lustie Gentleman..Grew thenceforth shie of Women, and a Timon vnto Men.

1622 S. Ward Life of Faith in Death 48 Yet is it but our folly to be so shye of this sight, for though it bee sad, yet it is of all the sights vnder the Sunne the most necessary.

a1639 H. Wotton Parallel betweene Earle of Essex & Duke of Buckingham (1641) 5 Princes..are (by Wisesome of State) somewhat shye of their Successors.

1664 N. Ingelo Bentivolio & Urania: 2nd Pt. v. 42 We should not be so shie of Death, for it is the only passage to Immortal Life.

1683 W. Cave Ecclesiastici 53 Men generally became more shy of his acquaintance.

1687 J. Norris Coll. Misc. 36 But when we come to seize th'inviting prey, Like a Shy Ghost, it vanishes away.

1702 D. Defoe Shortest-way with Dissenters 27 The primitive Christians were not more shie of a Heathen-Temple, or of Meat offer'd to Idols,..than [etc.].

1718 S. Ockley Hist. Saracens II. 285 Abdollah was still shy of him, and did not employ him in any considerable Post.

1824 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XVI xxxvi. 79 The spectre has grown shyer.

1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 189 Since the catastrophe recorded in our last, Mrs. Tibbs had been very shy of young lady boarders.

1885 W. H. White Mark Rutherford's Deliverance (ed. 9) iv. 52 The women in the countryside were shy of her.

1903 C. E. Osborne Life Fr. Dolling (1905) ii. 21 He thought he could do more good as a layman, especially with young men, as so many of the latter are ‘shy’ of the clergy.

b. of an animal, bird, etc. Hence, said of a river in which the fish are too shy to afford good fishing.

ΚΠ

1674 J. Ray S. & E. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 76 Shie or shy, apt to startle and flee from you, or that keeps off and will not come near.

1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World iv. 70 They [sc. flamingoes] are very shy, therefore it is hard to shoot them.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. iv. 157 This place..abounds with goats, who, not being accustomed to be disturbed, were no ways shy or apprehensive of danger.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. ii. 309 The cattle..were not at all shy of us.

1772 T. Simpson Compl. Vermin-killer 20 Some have a notion that crows are shy of powder.

1816 J. K. Tuckey Narr. Exped. River Zaire (1818) i. 31 Some covies of guinea fowl were seen, but too shy to be shot at.

1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting iv. 99 They [sea-cows] were very shy, and showed poor heads.

1872 F. Francis Bk. Angling (ed. 3) i. 53 If..the fish remain shy, leave the swim for a couple of hours.

1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 485/2 On all but the very ‘shy’ chalk streams, it [sc. the grayling] may be risen..against its will.

1908 E. Fowler Between Trent & Ancholme 34 The robin is more shy.

c. to be or look shy on or at: to regard with distrust or suspicion.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > suspect, distrust [phrase]

to have, take, occasionally bear suspicion13..

to have or hold (a person or thing) suspectc1380

to have (or hold) in suspectc1386

to have supposinga1400

to enter into suspicion with1471

to have in suspicion1471

to have in jealousy1523

to smell a ratc1540

to smell a fox1599

to be or look shy on or at1837

1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. I. iii. viii. 149 The very Courtiers looked shy at it.

1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xiii. 112 Hulker and Bullock are looking shy at him.

1871 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch (1872) I. i. vi. 88 How will you like going to Sessions with everybody looking shy on you?

d. As last element in combinations: frightened (of), averse or reluctant (to).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective] > shy > (as last element in combinations) reluctant to

shy1884

1884 T. Speedy Sport in Highlands iv. 50 The first birds shot at over a gun-shy dog should certainly be killed.

1928 Daily Express 2 Apr. 7/4 To make the lot of the work-shy as favourable as that of the worker.

1934 H. G. Wells Exper. in Autobiogr. I. v. 286 Like so many people who have had the benefit of a simple English education she was book-shy.

1938 Amer. Speech 13 188/1 Needle-shy, a phobia..which manifests itself in a revulsion against using the hypodermic needle or seeing it used.

1972 Sat. Rev. (U.S.) 28 Oct. 33/3 The extent to which rather sophisticated people remain telephone-shy is remarkable.

1972 Guardian 24 Nov. 32/1 Traffic shy commuters.

a. Fearful of committing oneself to a particular course of action; chary, unwilling, reluctant. Const. of, in, about, at, and to with infinitive.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > [adjective]

argha1000

slowOE

unwillyc1200

sweera1300

unfain1338

loathc1374

dangerousc1386

eschewc1386

squeamous1387

obstinate?a1439

unpresta1500

ill-willing?1520

evil-willing1525

untowards1525

untowarda1530

unwilling1533

strange1548

ill-willed1549

dainty1553

relucting1553

squeamish?1553

nicea1560

loathful1561

coyish1566

coy1576

unhearty1583

costive1594

unready1595

tarrowinga1598

undisposed1597

involuntary1598

backward1600

retrograde1602

unpregnant1604

scrupulous1608

unprone1611

refractory1614

behindhanda1616

nilling1620

backwards1627

shya1628

retractable1632

reluctant1638

loughta1641

tendera1641

unapt1640

uninclinable1640

unbeteaming1642

boggling1645

averse1646

indisposed1646

aversant1657

incomposed1660

disinclined1703

unobliging1707

unconsenting1713

uninclined1729

tenacious1766

disinclinable1769

ill-disposed1771

unaffectioned1788

scruplesomec1800

back-handed1817

sweert1817

tharf1828

backward in coming forward1830

unvoluntary1834

misinclined1837

squeamy1838

balky1847

retractive1869

grudging1874

tharfish1876

unwishful1876

safety first1917

the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective] > shy > fearful of committing oneself or reluctant

shya1628

a1628 J. Preston Breast-plate of Faith (1630) 29 Be not thou shye in taking of him; for you have free liberty.

1633 G. Herbert Brit. Ch. in Temple vii She..is so shie of dressing, that her hair doth lie About her eares.

1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ iii. xxviii. 99 His Majesty..desird them..now that they had detected the treason to discover also the traitors, but they were shy in that point.

1656 R. Sanderson 20 Serm. vii. 142 They that are guiltiest of folly, are the shyest to own it.

1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 4 Although he had much wit, H' was very shie of using it.

1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 81 I..have as good an Opinion of these Rules, as those have that are shyest of discovering theirs.

1707 G. Hickes Two Treat. ii. ii. 270 Why then are you so shy in owning their rectoral Power?

1712 J. Arbuthnot Law is Bottomless-pit viii. 15 A stinking Ulcer, which made every body shie to come near her.

1743 R. Blair Grave 27 That stood aloof, as shy to meet.

1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 139 The local magistrates, from timidity or worse motives, are become shy of acting against them.

1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. v. 506 Distrust of the English power, now violently shaken, made his father shy.

1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xviii. 156 Be shy of loving frankly.

1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities i. ii. 4 In those days, travellers were very shy of being confidential on a short notice.

1890 W. Booth In Darkest Eng. ii. v. 190 Families are naturally shy at receiving these poor unfortunates.

1913 Jane E. Harrison Anc. Art & Ritual iv. 91 Some of us now-a-days are getting a little shy of deliberately cursing our neighbours on Ash Wednesday.

1940 Ann. Reg. 1939 362 So much money had already been lost..that investors were shy.

b. Averse from admitting (a principle), or from considering (a subject). Const. of.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > [adjective] > to admit or consider something

shy1641

1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Vindic. Answer Hvmble Remonstr. vi. 84 That which the Remonstrant would perswade his reader we are shie of.

a1645 W. Laud Hist. Troubles & Tryal (1695) iii. 106 I see too, that too many Men are shye of Good Works.

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. vi. §16 The present Jews..are grown very shy of the argument drawn from thence.

1662 H. More Gen. Coll. Philos. Writings (1712) Pref. Gen. p. xx At which Timidity of mine, none can justly wonder that considers how shie the ancient Fathers were of the Globosity of the Earth.

1676 J. Glanvill Ess. i. 26 Nor are we shy of their Informations, because they were hid from Ages.

1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe Pref. sig. **2^v So far from being shy of such an Hypothesis, as that they were even Fond thereof.

c. Phrases. †to make shy of: to be shy of, to be afraid of (doing). to fight shy: see to fight shy at fight v. 9.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > be timorous [verb (transitive)] > be shy of or be afraid of (doing)

to make shy of1638

1638 D. Featley Stricturæ in Lyndomastygem i. 152 in H. Lynde Case for Spectacles They made shie of reading Scripture, for feare of being made Heretiques thereby.

†d. shy of oneself: unwilling to expose oneself.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > [adjective] > retiring or withdrawn

soleinc1450

retiring1566

retireda1616

oyster-like1665

squab1689

shy of oneself1722

indrawn1751

introverted1850

background1896

retreative1898

introvert1916

introversive1923

withdrawn1932

1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 103 I was..now to thrust my self in among so many People, who for some Weeks, had been so shye of my self, that if I met any Body in the Street, I would cross the Way from them.

†4. Cautiously reserved; wary in speech or action. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > [adjective]

warelyOE

warec1000

adviseda1325

averty1330

aware1340

ferdfula1382

well-advisedc1405

circumspect1430

hooly1513

fearful1526

curiousa1533

chary1542

wareful1548

cautelous1574

cauty1579

careful1580

wary1580

retentive1599

wary1599

ginger1600

circumstant1603

cautel1606

shya1616

cautionate1616

warisome1628

cautiousa1640

circumspectious1649

circumspectivea1674

gingerish1764

safe1874

pussy-footed1893

pussyfooting1926

risk-averse1961

risk-adverse1969

a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 394 A shie fellow was the Duke.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) v. i. 54 As shie, as graue..As Angelo.

a1691 A. Wood Life (1891) I. 152 He..found him very shie; but..he was very free afterwards in his communications.

a. Shrinking from self-assertion; sensitively timid; retiring or reserved from diffidence; bashful.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > shyness or bashfulness > [adjective]

shamefastc897

unboldc897

shamelya1100

squeamous1483

bashful1548

shamefaced1555

squeamish1561

retiring1566

chary1567

verecund1575

blatec1600

helo1611

shy1672

shuff1688

shyish1754

shanny1821

fawn-like1838

1672 Duke of Buckingham Rehearsal iii. 25 Shie Maid.

1782 F. Burney Cecilia II. iv. vi. 188 But shy, quite too shy; no drawing her out.

1845 B. Disraeli Sybil III. v. vii. 95 A little shy at first, but he only wants bringing out.

1859 Habits Good Society 29 People too shy or too stupid to talk.

1884 F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer (ed. 2) I. 87 Nino is not a shy boy.

in extended use.1823 W. Wordsworth Not Love, not War (Sonn.) 14 The flower of sweetest smell is shy and lowly.

b. of a person's actions, etc.

ΚΠ

1713 J. Addison in Guardian 6 July 2/2 The Venus de Medicis..is represented in such a shy retiring Posture, and covers her Bosom with one of her Hands.

1722 R. Steele Conscious Lovers iii. i All your Skittishness, shy Looks, and at best but coy Compliances.

1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond I. i. 33 Performing a shy obeisance to the mistress of his house.

c. figurative.

ΚΠ

1641 J. Milton Animadversions 8 Such an Anatomie of the shiest, and tenderest particular truths.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People vii. §7. 412 The shy revival of English letters during the earlier half of Elizabeth's reign.

1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 27 Had but fortune favored, bidden each shy faculty advance.

1878 B. Taylor Prince Deukalion ii. v. 88 The earth, in her shy embraces, Conceals the traces Of the secret birth of the Stream.

d. transferred. Of a place, etc.: Retiring, secluded.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > retirement or seclusion > secluded place or place of seclusion > [adjective]

secrec1374

blindc1386

privatea1513

secret?a1513

shadowy1555

close1571

retired1593

retrait1603

sequestrate1632

recessful1646

recluse1650

reserved1653

secessive1653

coy1670

sequestrated1726

slya1764

secluded1798

shy1841

retiracied1856

undisprivacied1870

madding1874

1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge iv. 253 It was a modest dwelling..but a shy, blinking house.

1853 M. Arnold Scholar Gipsy in Poems (new ed.) 205 A heap of flowers Pluck'd in shy fields and distant woodland bowers.

1856 T. De Quincey Confessions Eng. Opium-eater (rev. ed.) in Select. Grave & Gay V. 226 Shy recesses of the lake.

1885 J. R. Lowell Coleridge in Writ. (1890) VI. 72 He was the first to observe some of the sky's appearances and some of the shyer revelations of outward nature.

1899 C. G. Harper Exeter Road 124 These places are all shy and retiring, tucked away up bye-lanes.

6. In various transferred uses of sense 2.

a. Of plants, trees, etc.: Unprolific, not bearing well. Also rarely of birds: Not breeding freely.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > infertility > [adjective]

yelda1100

barrenc1200

geldc1225

untudderya1325

unfruitinga1400

infecundc1420

unfruitfula1425

fruitlessa1513

infertile1598

abortive1601

sterile1612

effete1621

deaf1633

improlifical1646

subventaneous1652

improlifica1661

unprolific1672

unfructifying1827

subfertile1846

agenesic1864

eggless1904

shy1905

radiosterilized1960

1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. 47 The golden pippin has gradually become a shy grower in this country.

1836 C. P. Traill Backwoods of Canada xiv. 246 The plant..seems to be a shy blossomer.

1852 Beck's Florist 193 It is rather a shy bearer, though it blooms very profusely.

1869 J. R. Lowell My Study Windows (1871) 7 A small foreign grape-vine, rather shy of bearing.

1905 P. C. Mitchell Guide Zool. Gardens (ed. 3) 7 An excellent table~bird but a shy breeder.

1905 H. R. Haggard Gardener's Year July 239 They are shy flowerers.

b. U.S. Short (of), lacking. Also const. on. Betting slang (see quot. 1895).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > non-possession > [adjective] > devoid of something > lacking or without > ill-provided with something

barec1220

leana1340

needya1425

matterless1483

deficious1541

scarce of?1541

scanta1595

deficienta1616

strait1662

short of1697

shy1895

low on1904

short on1922

light1936

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > games of chance > [adjective] > having less than proper stake

shy1895

1895 I. K. Funk et al. Standard Dict. Eng. Lang. II. (at cited word) Having a less amount of money at stake than is called for by the rules of the game; short; as, to be shy a dollar in the pool.

1896 S. Crane Little Regim. 187 None..knew how an orderly sergeant ranked, but then it was understood to be somewhere just shy of a major-general's stars.

1897 Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch 21 Sept. 5/4 The police department is much too shy of funds already.

1903 A. H. Lewis Boss xiv. 174 I'd naturally s'ppose that when you went shy on th' long green, you'd touch th' old gentleman.

a1904 A. Adams Log of Cowboy ix. 132 I ordered Joe to tie his [the ox's] mate behind the trail wagon and pull out one ox shy.

1975 R. Stout Family Affair (1976) iv. 46 I merely thought some women were a little shy on brains, present company not excepted.

7. colloquial or slang in uses derived from sense 5.

a. Of questionable character, disreputable, ‘shady’.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > [adjective] > of doubtful reputation

queer?a1513

questionable1788

equivocal1790

shy1849

dingy1855

demi-reputable1897

off-white1951

1849 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis (1850) I. xxv. 250 Rather a shy place for a sucking county member.

1860 C. Dickens Uncommerc. Traveller in All Year Round 26 May 156/1 Nothing in shy neighbourhoods perplexes my mind more.

1864 H. J. Byron Paid in Full v Hadn't shy turf-transactions been more than hinted at?

1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. xii. 121 The two men, very shy characters.

1869 J. Roberts & H. Buck Roberts on Billiards 254 Shell out is a ‘shy’ game for a public room.

1908 Blackwood's Mag. Feb. 252/2 Gambling hells and shy saloons.

b. Doubtful in amount or quality.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [adjective] > limited in quantity or amount > scanty or meagre

feeblec1275

straita1300

thinc1374

threadbarec1412

exile?1440

silly?a1500

pilled1526

thinnish1540

carrion-lean1542

carrion1565

exiled?1577

penurious1594

unnourishing1605

starveling1611

meagre1612

short-handed1622

lanka1644

scrimp1681

strigose1708

skimp1775

skimping1775

spare1813

shy1821

scrimping1823

skimpy1842

slim1852

scrappy1985

minnowy1991

1821 Life D. Haggart 39 Although I had not been idle during these three months, I found my blunt getting shy.

1850 W. M. Thackeray Contrib. to Punch in Wks. (1900) VI. 165 That uncommonly shy supper of dry bread and milk-and-water.

1862 W. M. Thackeray Adventures of Philip II. iii. 49 The dinner, I own, is shy, unless I come and dine with my friends.

1865 M. Lemon Loved at Last ix Any place will do, as her geography is rather shy, and I can make her believe anything.

8. dialect. Of the wind:

a. Chill, keen, piercing.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [adjective] > cold or keen

keen1340

bleaky1687

scourya1774

naked1822

scything1822

shy1828

1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Shy, keen, piercing. ‘A shy wind’.

b. ‘Not exactly fair for the ship's course’ ( Whitby Gloss., 1876). See Eng. Dial. Dict.[The origin of sense 8a is not clear; it may be a distinct word. Sense 8b seems a natural development from 2.]

ΚΠ

1891 Cent. Dict. (at cited word) Scant. The wind is said to be shy when it will barely allow a vessel to sail on her course.

Compounds

General attributive.

C1.

shy-breeding adj.

ΚΠ

1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist 447 The shy-breeding black sorts.

shy-eyed adj.

ΚΠ

1910 J. Masefield Ballads & Poems 80 The shy-eyed delicate deer.

1952 R. Finlayson Schooner came to Atia 118 Shy-eyed kiddies ran out to look.

shy-footed adj.

ΚΠ

1917 J. Masefield Lollingdon Downs 86 Shy-footed beauty dear.

shy-looking adj.

ΚΠ

1879 Alexina M. Ruthquist in Mem. (1893) 95 His shy-looking wife.

shy-making adj.

ΚΠ

1930 E. Waugh Vile Bodies ii. 19 I shall just ring up every Cabinet Minister and all the newspapers and give them all the most shy-making details.

1930 W. S. Maugham Cakes & Ale 23 Popular adjectives (like ‘divine’ or ‘shy-making’).

1930 Time & Tide 18 Oct. 1300 It is very shy-making to have a real Galsworthy to review.

1940 M. Allingham Black Plumes xv. 175 Great heroism, like great cowardice, is shy-making, and they were all..embarrassed.

1974 Listener 21 Nov. 677/1 Dr Ray rightly quotes enough of their shy-making exchanges.

shy-retiring adj.

ΚΠ

1743 R. Blair Grave 19 From stubborn Shrubs Thou wrung'st their shy retiring Virtues out, And vex'd them in the Fire.

C2.

shy-brightly adv.

ΚΠ

1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. ix. [Scylla & Charybdis] 199 Eglintoneyes..looked up shybrightly.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

shyv.¹

Brit.

/ʃʌɪ/, U.S.

/ʃaɪ/

Forms: Also 1600s shie, shye.

Etymology: < shy adj.Old English had apparently a verb scýhan , scýan to take fright (= sense 3 below) < the adjective = Old High German schiuhen . Cf. the following quot. c1000:c1000 Ælfric Lives Saints xxxi. 971 Þa scyddon [MS. K. scyhdon] þa mulas þe þæt cræt tugon, ðurh his to-cyme afyrhte.

1. intransitive. To take a sudden fright or aversion; to make a difficulty, ‘boggle’ about doing something; to recoil, shrink. Const. at, from: rarely to with infinitive. Now usually felt as transferred from 2.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > be unwilling [verb (intransitive)]

nillOE

loathea1200

to make it tough1297

forthinka1300

reckc1300

ruea1400

to make (it) strangec1405

to make strangenessc1407

stick1418

resistc1425

to make (it) strange?1456

steek1478

tarrowc1480

doubt1483

sunyie1488

to make (it) nice1530

stay1533

shentc1540

to make courtesy (at)1542

to make it scrupulous1548

to think (it) much1548

to make dainty of (anything)1555

to lie aback1560

stand1563

steek1573

to hang back1581

erch1584

to make doubt1586

to hang the groin1587

to make scruple (also a, no, etc., scruple)1589

yearn1597

to hang the winga1601

to make squeamish1611

smay1632

bogglea1638

to hang off1641

waver1643

reluct1648

shy1650

reluctate1655

stickle1656

scruple1660

to make boggle1667

revere1689

begrudge1690

to have scruples1719

stopc1738

bitch1777

reprobate1779

crane1823

disincline1885

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > shrink or flinch

fikec1220

wincha1250

withshontec1450

shrink1513

squitch1570

blanch1572

shruga1577

to shrink in the neck1581

wink1605

budgea1616

shy1650

shudder1668

flincha1677

wincea1748

the mind > emotion > fear > physical symptoms of fear > exhibit physical symptoms [verb (intransitive)] > cower or flinch

wondec897

shuna1000

blencha1250

cowerc1300

scunnerc1425

cringea1525

to play couch-quaila1529

quail1544

winch1605

dwindle1612

blank1642

shy1650

scringec1700

funk?1746

flinch1883

curl1913

1650 N. Ward Discolliminium 40 Why [do] they shye so strangely at this new Ingagement?

1778 S. Crisp 8 Dec. in F. Burney Diary (1891) I. 93 I mean such freedoms as ladies of the strictest character..perhaps would shy at being known to be the authors of.

1783 F. Burney Diary 19 June (1842) II. 270 He was too well-bred to force himself upon me, and finding I shied, he left me alone.

1814 Word of Honor iii. i, in New Brit. Theatre I. 364 A man who loves another's wife, Will never shy to take a wife himself To screen his base intrigue.

1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice II. v. ii. 95 The more publicity is given to this arrangement, the more difficult for Evelyn to shy at the leap.

1889 M. Crommelin & J. M. Brown Violet Vyvian II. xv. 248 She is shying from the thought.

1911 J. M. Barrie Peter & Wendy v. 81 The only thing he shied at was the sight of his own blood.

1912 E. Glyn Halcyone xxvii. 245 He was not buried in that outer circle of oblivion from which the thoughts unconsciously shy.

2. Of a horse: To shrink or start back or aside through sudden fear. Const. at, rarely from.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > fear > physical symptoms of fear > exhibit physical symptoms [verb (intransitive)] > show signs of nervousness > (of mules and horses) shy

shy1796

the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [verb (intransitive)] > shy

start?a1513

skeigh1513

startle1576

flounder1592

shy1796

scotch1832

nap1953

starter pack1955

1796 J. Lawrence Philos. & Pract. Treat. Horses I. 166 Thorough-bred hacks are..the least liable to shy of all others.

1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward I. ix. 238 The horse shyed from the boar.

1861 T. P. Thompson Audi Alteram Partem III. 217 There is no use in being ill-humoured because a young horse shies.

1879 J. Beerbohm Wanderings in Patagonia 20 [The horse] stumbled on, occasionally shying wildly at the glimmering whiteness of some heap of bleached guanaco bones.

1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 342/1 (Driving) Shy, to spring suddenly either sideways or backwards from fear, or from excess of spirits.

3. to shy off (rarely to shy out of something, to shy away); To slip away in order to avoid a person or thing; figurative to find a means of evasion.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)] > avoid

avoid1577

to shy out of1792

to fight shy1821

to run a mile1835

1792 Elvina I. 38 We are obliged to shy off.

1843 Miall in Nonconformist III. 209 Men who desire to get rid of the question..shy off, with wonderful dexterity from all allusions to it.

1856 D. Masson Ess. Biogr. & Crit. iv. 101 The style of poetry..as all modern readers confess by the alacrity with which they shy out of the way of reprinted specimens of it [etc.].

1869 A. J. Evans Vashti xiii. 177 His blue eyes rather shied away from mine.

1894 A. Robertson Nuggets 111 Elsie was shying off from Alec.

a. transitive. To shun or avoid (a person, thing, or immaterial thing).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun

overboweOE

bibughOE

fleea1000

forbowa1000

ashun1000

befleec1000

beflyc1175

bischunc1200

withbuwe?c1225

waive1303

eschew1340

refuse1357

astartc1374

sparec1380

shuna1382

void1390

declinea1400

forbeara1400

shurna1400

avoidc1450

umbeschewc1485

shewe1502

evite1503

devoid1509

shrink1513

schew?a1534

devite1549

fly1552

abstract1560

evitate1588

estrange1613

cut1791

shy1802

skulk1835

side-slip1930

to walk away from1936

punt1969

1802 J. Bentham Mem. & Corr. in Wks. (1843) X. 399 I am inclined to suspect he shies the subject.

1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London II. iii. 75 He has shied me lately.

1830 A. W. Fonblanque Eng. under Seven Admin. (1837) II. 50 His Grace [Wellington] had shyed the City Feast, being frightened by a Donkey.

1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. xvi. 274 Troubridge..was not a man to shy his work.

1872 A. Gray Lett. II. 623 I shy or refuse such applications generally.

b. Pugilism.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > box [verb (transitive)] > actions

parry1672

punish1801

pink1810

shy1812

sling1812

mug1818

weave1818

prop1846

feint1857

counter1861

cross-counter1864

slip1897

hook1898

unload1912

to beat a person to the punch1923

mitt1930

tag1938

counterpunch1964

1812 Sporting Mag. 39 22 It struck us that the Black shyed his adversary.

1819 Sporting Mag. n.s. 4 236 He had too much of the Teddy Tay spirit about him to wince or shy it.

5. To render timid or shy; to frighten off.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > causing physical symptoms > cause physical symptoms [verb (transitive)] > frighten away

feezec890

shuncha1225

aschewelea1250

fearc1420

scarec1450

affray1487

fray1526

fright1599

lowbell1642

shy1845

1845 W. Youatt Dog iii. 84 A rate given at an improper time..disgusts the honest hound, it shies and prevents from hunting the timid one.

1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xxii. 173 A little projection of the main field to windward shied them off.

Derivatives

ˈshying n. and adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [noun] > shy or shying

shy1791

shying1796

flounder1867

the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > [noun] > avoiding an action or condition > shrinking or recoiling

wondingc1440

recoil1567

shrinking1580

flinching1600

shrugginga1617

reluctancea1628

blanching1642

smaying1678

shying1796

flinch1817

funking1823

blenching1868

recoiling1892

the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [adjective] > shying

shyinga1900

1796 J. Lawrence Philos. & Pract. Treat. Horses I. 81 This was not the effect of starting or shying, to which she [the mare] was at no rate addicted.

1869 J. H. Newman in W. Ward Life Cardinal Newman (1912) II. 257 I hope my shying, as I do, will not keep you from speaking out.

a1900 Duke of Argyll Autobiogr. (1906) II. 82 They seemed to go suddenly mad, like shying horses or stampeded mules.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

shyv.²

Brit.

/ʃʌɪ/, U.S.

/ʃaɪ/

Forms: Also 1700s shie.

Etymology: Of obscure origin. The earliest use suggests that it may have arisen in some way from the expression shy cock n.

Chiefly colloquial.

1. intransitive. To throw a missile, esp. carelessly or by a jerk. Const. at.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (intransitive)] > quickly or carelessly

shy1787

1787 J. Bentham Def. Usury xiii. 164 All that he knows, all that he can know, is, that the enterprize is a project he looks upon as a sort of cock to shie at.

1790 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. (ed. 2) Shie, or Shy. To shy at a cock, to throw at a cock with a stick. Kent.

1820 J. H. Reynolds Fancy (1906) 34 I've shy'd with stick, to win a bit The backy-box of brown japan.

1840 T. De Quincey Mod. Superstition in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 563/1 To shy at a cow within six feet distance.

1851 W. M. Thackeray Stray Papers (1901) 269 Raikes..justly prided himself upon shying at the sticks better than any man in the army.

1889 Bodley in 19th Cent. Nov. 801 The Anglo-Saxon race alone is capable of propelling a missile in the method known as ‘shying’.

a. transitive. To fling, throw, jerk, toss; also with at, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (transitive)] > quickly or carelessly

shy1793

1793 W. B. Stevens Jrnl. 26 Mar. (1965) i. 74 It was but the other day he thought that every man ought to shy Jack Dawson from their Houses and Lo now he is his dear friend.

1824 J. Badcock Boxiana IV. 261 The Birmingham Youth..also shied his castor with a confident air.

1831 E. J. Trelawny Adventures Younger Son I. vii. 47 He then shyed his gold-laced cocked hat.

1834 F. Marryat Jacob Faithful III. iv. 63 I wish he hadn't shied the cat at her.

1853 ‘C. Bede’ Adventures Mr. Verdant Green viii. 75 When you came to shy the empty bottles..he couldn't stand that sort of game.

1856 C. Reade It is never too Late I. xv. 276 He..shied the pieces of glass carefully over the wall.

1874 G. Walch Head over Heels 74 We could shy up our caps for a feller.

1880 L. Parr Adam & Eve 233 Her own glass and its contents were shyed to the other end of the room.

1886 G. Allen For Maimie's Sake xviii I shied the stuff away.

b. transferred and figurative.

ΚΠ

1827 W. Scott Jrnl. 26 Mar. (1941) 37 I cannot keep up with the world without shying a letter now and then.

1860 Sir H. Acland in J. B. Atlay Mem. (1903) 290 Washington..has a few palaces shied down upon a rubbishy heath.

1868 A. Helps Realmah (1876) 245 He would merely shy barbarous words, half-Latin, half-Greek at us.

1882 H. C. Merivale Faucit of Balliol II. ii. ii. 161 Then you bolted from Oxford, and shied up your fellowship.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

n.¹1791

n.²1791

adj.OE

v.¹1650

v.²1787

单词	shy
释义	shyn.¹ Brit. /ʃʌɪ/, U.S. /ʃaɪ/ Forms: Plural shies. Etymology: < shy v.¹ A sudden start aside made by a horse when it sees an object that frightens it. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [noun] > shy or shying shy1791 shying1796 flounder1867 1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsemanship ix. 42 [The horse] made a sort of a shy towards the cliff. 1857 C. Reade Course True Love 166 In the middle of a great shy which her mare made. 1908 Edinb. Rev. Oct. 472 We pass it by with a courteous bow which has in it something of a horse's shy at the uncanny. figurative.1900 M. E. Wilkins Love of Parson Lord 35 He has stepped along in his path of duty without a kick or a shy. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022). shyn.² Brit. /ʃʌɪ/, U.S. /ʃaɪ/ Forms: Also rare shie. Plural shies. Etymology: < shy v.² colloquial. 1. a. A quick, jerking (or careless) throw, as of a stone, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > [noun] > quick or careless throw shy1791 1791 J. Brand Observ. Pop. Antiq. (1813) I. 67 The person who throws..has three shys, or throws, for two pence. 1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 316 Jack-in-the-box—three shies a penny. 1849 W. S. Mayo Kaloolah (1850) ii. 25 Swinging his cap round his head, he gave it a shie over the lee quarter. 1854 W. Collins Hide & Seek I. vii. 194 I never remember wanting to throw a rotten egg at any of my fellow-creatures before—but I feel certain that I should enjoy having a shy at Mr. Jubber! 1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany xv. 245 When he was a boy, he..used to think it good fun to have a ‘shy’ at these windows. b. Eton Football. A point scored in the ‘Wall’ game (see quot. 1881). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > other forms of football > [noun] > Eton > point rouge1861 shy1868 1868 Field 28 Nov. 446/3 This match..ended in favour of the School by five shies to nothing. 1881 C. E. Pascoe Everyday Life in our Public Schools 54 Once behind this [calx] line, the player's object is to get it [the ball] up..with his foot against the wall and touch, when he gets a ‘shy’; that is, the privilege of throwing the ball at the goals, while the other side..defend them. Of course, if he succeeds in reaching the goals, he gets a goal... More generally the game is decided by the number of ‘shies’ got. 2. figurative. a. An attempt to damage by sarcasm or verbal attack; a ‘fling’ at a person or thing. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > criticism > [noun] > instance of > sharp quippy1519 quip1532 snack?1554 gird1566 pincha1568 quib1656 hitc1668 snapper1817 shy1840 shot1841 swipe1892 jab1905 licks1971 1840 T. De Quincey Mod. Superstition in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 563/1 If Rousseau thought fit to try such tremendous appeals by taking ‘a shy’ at any random object, he should have governed his sortilegy..with something more like equity. 1854 W. M. Thackeray Newcomes I. xvi. 158 ‘You are always having a shy at Lady Ann and her relations’, says Mr. Newcome... ‘A shy! How can you use such vulgar words, Mr. Newcome?’ 1859 T. De Quincey Select. Grave & Gay Pref. Memorandum p. xvii The Doctor..resolved to ‘take a shy’, before parting, at the most consecrated of Milton's creations. 1873 B. Harte Washington in N. Jersey in Fiddletown 94 I'd like to get a shy at G. W. some time. b. A trial, an experiment; a ‘shot’, a ‘go’. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > [noun] > an attempt tastec1330 assayc1386 proffera1400 proof?a1400 pluck?1499 saymenta1500 minta1522 attemptate1531 attempt1548 attemption1565 say1568 trice1579 offer1581 fling1590 tempt1597 essay1598 trial1614 tentative1632 molition1643 conamen1661 put1661 tentamen1673 conatus1722 shot1756 go1784 ettle1790 shy1824 hack1830 try1832 pop1839 slap1840 venture1842 stagger1865 flutter1874 whack1884 whirl1884 smack1889 swipe1892 buck1913 lash1941 wham1957 play1961 the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > [noun] > an experiment > a (slight) trial of something taste1390 smatch1628 tirlc1660 shy1824 1824 J. Badcock Boxiana IV. 149 ‘I am sure you are too generous to let a brave man want; and I never knew an appeal made here in vain.’ ‘Well, then, go it,’ echoed one of the East-enders; ‘I like to have a shy for my money.’ Half crowns, shillings, and sixpences were instantly thrown upon the stage. 1848 W. M. Thackeray Let. in Introd. to Pendennis in Wks. (1898) II. p. xxxiv Sometimes I have a shy myself, and I don't lose or win twenty francs. 1856 C. Dickens Little Dorrit (1857) ii. vi. 374 He would be all the better for a temporary shy at an entirely new scene and climate. 1881 C. Gibbon Heart's Probl. (1884) vi. 86 Have a shy at putting the case plainly to me. 1887 W. E. Henley Culture in Slums iii. 7 I've had at Pater many a shy. 3. a. One who throws, a thrower or shyer. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > [noun] > one who or that which warperOE castera1400 throwerc1450 flinger1598 tosser1612 jaculator1796 shy1884 shyer1895 slinger1902 1884 James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Ann. ii. iii. 103 A good field and shy. Categories » b. coconut shy: see coconut shy n. at coconut n. Compounds 3. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022). shyadj. Brit. /ʃʌɪ/, U.S. /ʃaɪ/ Forms: Old English scéoh (? inflected scíon), Middle English scheouh, scheowe, Middle English schey, 1500s shey, 1600s–1700s shie, shye, 1600s– shy. Etymology: Old English scéoh (very rare; also in combination scéohmód of timid mind), corresponding to Middle High German schiech < Germanic type skeuhwo- ; an ablaut variant (Germanic type sku^gwu- , -wjo- ) appears in Middle Dutch schuwe , schu (modern Dutch schuw ), Norwegian dialect skygg , Middle Swedish, Danish sky ; the synonymous modern German scheu is a new formation after the related scheu (feminine) (Middle High German schiuhe ) fear, abhorrence, scheuen to be shy of, fear (Middle High German schiuhen to be shy of, avoid, also causatively to drive away, Old High German sciuhen to frighten); < Germanic root skeuhw- to fear, to terrify, whence probably German schüchtern* shy; for other derivatives of the root see shewel n. The affinities that have been suggested for the root are very doubtful. The phonetic development of modern English shy /ʃaɪ/ from Old English scéoh is parallel with that of thigh < þéoh . Divergent forms in dialects are shuff n. ( < Old English sceōh with rising diphthong) and skeigh adj. and adv. (with unexplained initial). It is noteworthy that the pronunciation /ɔɪ/ is current in many dialects in which /ɔɪ/ does not ordinarily correspond to the /aɪ/ of standard English. 1. †a. Easily frightened or startled. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective] > easily frightened or startled shyOE scaddle1483 ramageous?c1530 ramage1567 startling1599 startish1677 startful1790 willyart1818 starty1825 OE Riming Poem 43 Nu min hreþer is hreoh, heofsiþum sceoh, nydbysgum neah. a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 108 Lokeð þet ȝe ne beon nout i liche ðe horse þet is scheouh. & blencheð uor one scheadewe... To scheowe heo beoð mid alle þet fleoð uor ane peinture. c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 444/2 Schey, or skey, as hors, or styȝtyl. 1648 H. Hexham Groot Woorden-boeck Een Schouw paerdt, a Shye Horse, a Fearefull, Horse. b. dialect. Of a horse: Skittish, unmanageable; high-mettled. Hence (?) of persons (see quot. a1855).Cf. the Old English gloss ‘scion, peculantis’ (read petulantis as in Aldhelm De Laud. Virg. 4705, to which the gloss refers) in Wright-Wülcker 517/16. ΘΚΠ society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [adjective] golec888 canga1225 light?c1225 wooinga1382 nicea1387 riota1400 wantonc1400 wrenec1400 lachesc1450 loose?a1500 licentious1555 libertine1560 prostitute1569 riggish1569 wide1574 slipper1581 slippery1586 sportive1595 gay1597 Cyprian1598 suburb1598 waggish1600 smicker1606 suburbian1606 loose-living1607 wantona1627 free-living1632 libertinous1632 loose-lived1641 Corinthian1642 akolastic1656 slight1685 fast1699 freea1731 brisk1740 shy1787 slang1818 randomc1825 fastish1832 loosish1846 slummya1860 velocious1872 fly1880 slack1951 the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [adjective] > rash or reckless recklesseOE redmodOE unreckless?c1225 hastivec1300 racklec1300 testyc1374 rabbisha1387 temeraryc1410 temerous1461 rash1509 temerarious1532 hare-brained1548 temerarec1550 hare-brain1566 hot-spurred1573 overrash1577 hotspur1586 madcap1591 wretchless1598 Phaetontic1608 zeal-blind1615 Phaetontal1617 unresponsable1619 Phaetontical1630 phaetonicala1640 Phaetonic1708 hell-bent1731 harum-scarum1751 unresponsible1764 suicidal1768 rumgumptious1781 shy1787 devil-may-care1799 bullheaded1818 devil-may-carish1825 temeritous1892 kamikaze1952 the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective] > capricious or whimsical startfulmood?a1300 wildc1350 volage?a1366 gerfulc1374 geryc1386 wild-headeda1400 skittishc1412 gerish1430 shittle1440 shittle-witted1448 runningc1449 volageous1487 glaikit1488 fantasious1490 giggish1523 tickle or light of the sear?1530 fantastical1531 wayward1531 wantona1538 peevish1539 light-headed1549 humoral1573 unstaid1579 shittle-headed1580 toy-headed1581 fangled1587 humorous1589 choiceful1591 toyish1598 tricksy1598 skip-brain1603 capricious1605 humoursome1607 planetary1607 vertiginous1609 whimsieda1625 ingiddied1628 whimsy1637 toysome1638 cocklec1640 mercurial1647 garish1650 maggoty1650 kicksey-winseya1652 freakish1653 humourish1653 planetic1653 whimsical1653 shittle-braineda1655 freaking1663 maggoty-headed1667 maggot-pated1681 hoity-toity1690 maggotish1693 maggot-headeda1695 whimsy-headed1699 fantasque1701 crotchetly1702 quixotic1718 volatile1719 holloweda1734 conundrumical1743 flighty1768 fly-away1775 dizzy1780 whimmy1785 shy1787 whimming1787 quirky1789 notional1791 tricksome1815 vagarish1819 freakful1820 faddy1824 moodish1827 mawky1837 erratic1841 rockety1843 quirkish1848 maggoty-pated1850 crotchetya1854 freaksome1854 faddish1855 vagrom1882 fantasied1883 vagarisome1883 on-and-offish1888 tricksical1889 freaky1891 hobby-horsical1893 quirksome1896 temperamental1907 up and down1960 untogether1969 fanciful- fantastic- 1787 W. Marshall Provincialisms in Rural Econ. Norfolk II. 388 Shy, hare-brained; high-mettled; head-strong; as wild colts. a1855 W. T. Spurdens Forby's Vocab. E. Anglia (1858) III. 45 Shy, wild in conduct... A shy boy, or a shy girl, is wanton, unsteady, amorous. 1860 J. C. Hotten Dict. Slang (ed. 2) (at cited word) Shy has also the sense of flighty, unsteady, untrustworthy. 2. Easily frightened away; difficult of approach owing to timidity, caution, or distrust; timidly or cautiously averse to encountering or having to do with some specified person or thing; suspicious, distrustful. Const. of. a. of persons. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [adjective] ortrowOE truthlessa1200 untristc1374 mistrusty?a1425 overtrowinga1425 diffidenta1460 in suspicion1471 suspicionous1474 suspectious1521 mistrustful1529 surmising1535 distrusting1549 trustless?1550 mistrusting1552 misgiving1567 suspectfula1586 misdoubtful1596 distrustfula1600 shy1600 misdoubting1601 scrupulous1608 jealousa1616 umbratiousa1639 inconfident1667 suspecting1691 unconfiding1820 untrusting1861 defiant1872 leery1896 suspicionful1911 hincty1929 the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective] > shy untrumc1315 scar1559 shy1600 willyarta1796 unadvancing1819 fawn-like1838 1600 R. Hakluyt tr. J. Gonzalez de Mendoça in Princ. Navigations (new ed.) III. 391 Certaine souldiers..caried away captiue certaine of the people of the countrey, which caused the rest of them to be so shey and fearefull. 1606 W. Warner Continuance Albions Eng. xvi. cv. 412 This noble lustie Gentleman..Grew thenceforth shie of Women, and a Timon vnto Men. 1622 S. Ward Life of Faith in Death 48 Yet is it but our folly to be so shye of this sight, for though it bee sad, yet it is of all the sights vnder the Sunne the most necessary. a1639 H. Wotton Parallel betweene Earle of Essex & Duke of Buckingham (1641) 5 Princes..are (by Wisesome of State) somewhat shye of their Successors. 1664 N. Ingelo Bentivolio & Urania: 2nd Pt. v. 42 We should not be so shie of Death, for it is the only passage to Immortal Life. 1683 W. Cave Ecclesiastici 53 Men generally became more shy of his acquaintance. 1687 J. Norris Coll. Misc. 36 But when we come to seize th'inviting prey, Like a Shy Ghost, it vanishes away. 1702 D. Defoe Shortest-way with Dissenters 27 The primitive Christians were not more shie of a Heathen-Temple, or of Meat offer'd to Idols,..than [etc.]. 1718 S. Ockley Hist. Saracens II. 285 Abdollah was still shy of him, and did not employ him in any considerable Post. 1824 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XVI xxxvi. 79 The spectre has grown shyer. 1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 189 Since the catastrophe recorded in our last, Mrs. Tibbs had been very shy of young lady boarders. 1885 W. H. White Mark Rutherford's Deliverance (ed. 9) iv. 52 The women in the countryside were shy of her. 1903 C. E. Osborne Life Fr. Dolling (1905) ii. 21 He thought he could do more good as a layman, especially with young men, as so many of the latter are ‘shy’ of the clergy. b. of an animal, bird, etc. Hence, said of a river in which the fish are too shy to afford good fishing. ΚΠ 1674 J. Ray S. & E. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 76 Shie or shy, apt to startle and flee from you, or that keeps off and will not come near. 1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World iv. 70 They [sc. flamingoes] are very shy, therefore it is hard to shoot them. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. iv. 157 This place..abounds with goats, who, not being accustomed to be disturbed, were no ways shy or apprehensive of danger. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. ii. 309 The cattle..were not at all shy of us. 1772 T. Simpson Compl. Vermin-killer 20 Some have a notion that crows are shy of powder. 1816 J. K. Tuckey Narr. Exped. River Zaire (1818) i. 31 Some covies of guinea fowl were seen, but too shy to be shot at. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting iv. 99 They [sea-cows] were very shy, and showed poor heads. 1872 F. Francis Bk. Angling (ed. 3) i. 53 If..the fish remain shy, leave the swim for a couple of hours. 1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 485/2 On all but the very ‘shy’ chalk streams, it [sc. the grayling] may be risen..against its will. 1908 E. Fowler Between Trent & Ancholme 34 The robin is more shy. c. to be or look shy on or at: to regard with distrust or suspicion. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > suspect, distrust [phrase] to have, take, occasionally bear suspicion13.. to have or hold (a person or thing) suspectc1380 to have (or hold) in suspectc1386 to have supposinga1400 to enter into suspicion with1471 to have in suspicion1471 to have in jealousy1523 to smell a ratc1540 to smell a fox1599 to be or look shy on or at1837 1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. I. iii. viii. 149 The very Courtiers looked shy at it. 1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xiii. 112 Hulker and Bullock are looking shy at him. 1871 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch (1872) I. i. vi. 88 How will you like going to Sessions with everybody looking shy on you? d. As last element in combinations: frightened (of), averse or reluctant (to). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective] > shy > (as last element in combinations) reluctant to shy1884 1884 T. Speedy Sport in Highlands iv. 50 The first birds shot at over a gun-shy dog should certainly be killed. 1928 Daily Express 2 Apr. 7/4 To make the lot of the work-shy as favourable as that of the worker. 1934 H. G. Wells Exper. in Autobiogr. I. v. 286 Like so many people who have had the benefit of a simple English education she was book-shy. 1938 Amer. Speech 13 188/1 Needle-shy, a phobia..which manifests itself in a revulsion against using the hypodermic needle or seeing it used. 1972 Sat. Rev. (U.S.) 28 Oct. 33/3 The extent to which rather sophisticated people remain telephone-shy is remarkable. 1972 Guardian 24 Nov. 32/1 Traffic shy commuters. 3. a. Fearful of committing oneself to a particular course of action; chary, unwilling, reluctant. Const. of, in, about, at, and to with infinitive. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > [adjective] argha1000 slowOE unwillyc1200 sweera1300 unfain1338 loathc1374 dangerousc1386 eschewc1386 squeamous1387 obstinate?a1439 unpresta1500 ill-willing?1520 evil-willing1525 untowards1525 untowarda1530 unwilling1533 strange1548 ill-willed1549 dainty1553 relucting1553 squeamish?1553 nicea1560 loathful1561 coyish1566 coy1576 unhearty1583 costive1594 unready1595 tarrowinga1598 undisposed1597 involuntary1598 backward1600 retrograde1602 unpregnant1604 scrupulous1608 unprone1611 refractory1614 behindhanda1616 nilling1620 backwards1627 shya1628 retractable1632 reluctant1638 loughta1641 tendera1641 unapt1640 uninclinable1640 unbeteaming1642 boggling1645 averse1646 indisposed1646 aversant1657 incomposed1660 disinclined1703 unobliging1707 unconsenting1713 uninclined1729 tenacious1766 disinclinable1769 ill-disposed1771 unaffectioned1788 scruplesomec1800 back-handed1817 sweert1817 tharf1828 backward in coming forward1830 unvoluntary1834 misinclined1837 squeamy1838 balky1847 retractive1869 grudging1874 tharfish1876 unwishful1876 safety first1917 the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective] > shy > fearful of committing oneself or reluctant shya1628 a1628 J. Preston Breast-plate of Faith (1630) 29 Be not thou shye in taking of him; for you have free liberty. 1633 G. Herbert Brit. Ch. in Temple vii She..is so shie of dressing, that her hair doth lie About her eares. 1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ iii. xxviii. 99 His Majesty..desird them..now that they had detected the treason to discover also the traitors, but they were shy in that point. 1656 R. Sanderson 20 Serm. vii. 142 They that are guiltiest of folly, are the shyest to own it. 1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 4 Although he had much wit, H' was very shie of using it. 1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 81 I..have as good an Opinion of these Rules, as those have that are shyest of discovering theirs. 1707 G. Hickes Two Treat. ii. ii. 270 Why then are you so shy in owning their rectoral Power? 1712 J. Arbuthnot Law is Bottomless-pit viii. 15 A stinking Ulcer, which made every body shie to come near her. 1743 R. Blair Grave 27 That stood aloof, as shy to meet. 1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 139 The local magistrates, from timidity or worse motives, are become shy of acting against them. 1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. v. 506 Distrust of the English power, now violently shaken, made his father shy. 1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xviii. 156 Be shy of loving frankly. 1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities i. ii. 4 In those days, travellers were very shy of being confidential on a short notice. 1890 W. Booth In Darkest Eng. ii. v. 190 Families are naturally shy at receiving these poor unfortunates. 1913 Jane E. Harrison Anc. Art & Ritual iv. 91 Some of us now-a-days are getting a little shy of deliberately cursing our neighbours on Ash Wednesday. 1940 Ann. Reg. 1939 362 So much money had already been lost..that investors were shy. b. Averse from admitting (a principle), or from considering (a subject). Const. of. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > [adjective] > to admit or consider something shy1641 1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Vindic. Answer Hvmble Remonstr. vi. 84 That which the Remonstrant would perswade his reader we are shie of. a1645 W. Laud Hist. Troubles & Tryal (1695) iii. 106 I see too, that too many Men are shye of Good Works. 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. vi. §16 The present Jews..are grown very shy of the argument drawn from thence. 1662 H. More Gen. Coll. Philos. Writings (1712) Pref. Gen. p. xx At which Timidity of mine, none can justly wonder that considers how shie the ancient Fathers were of the Globosity of the Earth. 1676 J. Glanvill Ess. i. 26 Nor are we shy of their Informations, because they were hid from Ages. 1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe Pref. sig. *2^v So far from being shy of such an Hypothesis, as that they were even Fond thereof. c. Phrases. †to make shy of: to be shy of, to be afraid of (doing). to fight shy: see to fight shy* at fight v. 9. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > be timorous [verb (transitive)] > be shy of or be afraid of (doing) to make shy of1638 1638 D. Featley Stricturæ in Lyndomastygem i. 152 in H. Lynde Case for Spectacles They made shie of reading Scripture, for feare of being made Heretiques thereby. †d. shy of oneself: unwilling to expose oneself. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > [adjective] > retiring or withdrawn soleinc1450 retiring1566 retireda1616 oyster-like1665 squab1689 shy of oneself1722 indrawn1751 introverted1850 background1896 retreative1898 introvert1916 introversive1923 withdrawn1932 1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 103 I was..now to thrust my self in among so many People, who for some Weeks, had been so shye of my self, that if I met any Body in the Street, I would cross the Way from them. †4. Cautiously reserved; wary in speech or action. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > [adjective] warelyOE warec1000 adviseda1325 averty1330 aware1340 ferdfula1382 well-advisedc1405 circumspect1430 hooly1513 fearful1526 curiousa1533 chary1542 wareful1548 cautelous1574 cauty1579 careful1580 wary1580 retentive1599 wary1599 ginger1600 circumstant1603 cautel1606 shya1616 cautionate1616 warisome1628 cautiousa1640 circumspectious1649 circumspectivea1674 gingerish1764 safe1874 pussy-footed1893 pussyfooting1926 risk-averse1961 risk-adverse1969 a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 394 A shie fellow was the Duke. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) v. i. 54 As shie, as graue..As Angelo. View more context for this quotation a1691 A. Wood Life (1891) I. 152 He..found him very shie; but..he was very free afterwards in his communications. 5. a. Shrinking from self-assertion; sensitively timid; retiring or reserved from diffidence; bashful. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > shyness or bashfulness > [adjective] shamefastc897 unboldc897 shamelya1100 squeamous1483 bashful1548 shamefaced1555 squeamish1561 retiring1566 chary1567 verecund1575 blatec1600 helo1611 shy1672 shuff1688 shyish1754 shanny1821 fawn-like1838 1672 Duke of Buckingham Rehearsal iii. 25 Shie Maid. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia II. iv. vi. 188 But shy, quite too shy; no drawing her out. 1845 B. Disraeli Sybil III. v. vii. 95 A little shy at first, but he only wants bringing out. 1859 Habits Good Society 29 People too shy or too stupid to talk. 1884 F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer (ed. 2) I. 87 Nino is not a shy boy. in extended use.1823 W. Wordsworth Not Love, not War (Sonn.) 14 The flower of sweetest smell is shy and lowly. b. of a person's actions, etc. ΚΠ 1713 J. Addison in Guardian 6 July 2/2 The Venus de Medicis..is represented in such a shy retiring Posture, and covers her Bosom with one of her Hands. 1722 R. Steele Conscious Lovers iii. i All your Skittishness, shy Looks, and at best but coy Compliances. 1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond I. i. 33 Performing a shy obeisance to the mistress of his house. c. figurative. ΚΠ 1641 J. Milton Animadversions 8 Such an Anatomie of the shiest, and tenderest particular truths. 1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People vii. §7. 412 The shy revival of English letters during the earlier half of Elizabeth's reign. 1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 27 Had but fortune favored, bidden each shy faculty advance. 1878 B. Taylor Prince Deukalion ii. v. 88 The earth, in her shy embraces, Conceals the traces Of the secret birth of the Stream. d. transferred. Of a place, etc.: Retiring, secluded. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > retirement or seclusion > secluded place or place of seclusion > [adjective] secrec1374 blindc1386 privatea1513 secret?a1513 shadowy1555 close1571 retired1593 retrait1603 sequestrate1632 recessful1646 recluse1650 reserved1653 secessive1653 coy1670 sequestrated1726 slya1764 secluded1798 shy1841 retiracied1856 undisprivacied1870 madding1874 1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge iv. 253 It was a modest dwelling..but a shy, blinking house. 1853 M. Arnold Scholar Gipsy in Poems (new ed.) 205 A heap of flowers Pluck'd in shy fields and distant woodland bowers. 1856 T. De Quincey Confessions Eng. Opium-eater (rev. ed.) in Select. Grave & Gay V. 226 Shy recesses of the lake. 1885 J. R. Lowell Coleridge in Writ. (1890) VI. 72 He was the first to observe some of the sky's appearances and some of the shyer revelations of outward nature. 1899 C. G. Harper Exeter Road 124 These places are all shy and retiring, tucked away up bye-lanes. 6. In various transferred uses of sense 2. a. Of plants, trees, etc.: Unprolific, not bearing well. Also rarely of birds: Not breeding freely. ΘΚΠ the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > infertility > [adjective] yelda1100 barrenc1200 geldc1225 untudderya1325 unfruitinga1400 infecundc1420 unfruitfula1425 fruitlessa1513 infertile1598 abortive1601 sterile1612 effete1621 deaf1633 improlifical1646 subventaneous1652 improlifica1661 unprolific1672 unfructifying1827 subfertile1846 agenesic1864 eggless1904 shy1905 radiosterilized1960 1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. 47 The golden pippin has gradually become a shy grower in this country. 1836 C. P. Traill Backwoods of Canada xiv. 246 The plant..seems to be a shy blossomer. 1852 Beck's Florist 193 It is rather a shy bearer, though it blooms very profusely. 1869 J. R. Lowell My Study Windows (1871) 7 A small foreign grape-vine, rather shy of bearing. 1905 P. C. Mitchell Guide Zool. Gardens (ed. 3) 7 An excellent table~bird but a shy breeder. 1905 H. R. Haggard Gardener's Year July 239 They are shy flowerers. b. U.S. Short (of), lacking. Also const. on. Betting slang (see quot. 1895). ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > non-possession > [adjective] > devoid of something > lacking or without > ill-provided with something barec1220 leana1340 needya1425 matterless1483 deficious1541 scarce of?1541 scanta1595 deficienta1616 strait1662 short of1697 shy1895 low on1904 short on1922 light1936 society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > games of chance > [adjective] > having less than proper stake shy1895 1895 I. K. Funk et al. Standard Dict. Eng. Lang. II. (at cited word) Having a less amount of money at stake than is called for by the rules of the game; short; as, to be shy a dollar in the pool. 1896 S. Crane Little Regim. 187 None..knew how an orderly sergeant ranked, but then it was understood to be somewhere just shy of a major-general's stars. 1897 Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch 21 Sept. 5/4 The police department is much too shy of funds already. 1903 A. H. Lewis Boss xiv. 174 I'd naturally s'ppose that when you went shy on th' long green, you'd touch th' old gentleman. a1904 A. Adams Log of Cowboy ix. 132 I ordered Joe to tie his [the ox's] mate behind the trail wagon and pull out one ox shy. 1975 R. Stout Family Affair (1976) iv. 46 I merely thought some women were a little shy on brains, present company not excepted. 7. colloquial or slang in uses derived from sense 5. a. Of questionable character, disreputable, ‘shady’. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > [adjective] > of doubtful reputation queer?a1513 questionable1788 equivocal1790 shy1849 dingy1855 demi-reputable1897 off-white1951 1849 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis (1850) I. xxv. 250 Rather a shy place for a sucking county member. 1860 C. Dickens Uncommerc. Traveller in All Year Round 26 May 156/1 Nothing in shy neighbourhoods perplexes my mind more. 1864 H. J. Byron Paid in Full v Hadn't shy turf-transactions been more than hinted at? 1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. xii. 121 The two men, very shy characters. 1869 J. Roberts & H. Buck Roberts on Billiards 254 Shell out is a ‘shy’ game for a public room. 1908 Blackwood's Mag. Feb. 252/2 Gambling hells and shy saloons. b. Doubtful in amount or quality. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [adjective] > limited in quantity or amount > scanty or meagre feeblec1275 straita1300 thinc1374 threadbarec1412 exile?1440 silly?a1500 pilled1526 thinnish1540 carrion-lean1542 carrion1565 exiled?1577 penurious1594 unnourishing1605 starveling1611 meagre1612 short-handed1622 lanka1644 scrimp1681 strigose1708 skimp1775 skimping1775 spare1813 shy1821 scrimping1823 skimpy1842 slim1852 scrappy1985 minnowy1991 1821 Life D. Haggart 39 Although I had not been idle during these three months, I found my blunt getting shy. 1850 W. M. Thackeray Contrib. to Punch in Wks. (1900) VI. 165 That uncommonly shy supper of dry bread and milk-and-water. 1862 W. M. Thackeray Adventures of Philip II. iii. 49 The dinner, I own, is shy, unless I come and dine with my friends. 1865 M. Lemon Loved at Last ix Any place will do, as her geography is rather shy, and I can make her believe anything. 8. dialect. Of the wind: a. Chill, keen, piercing. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [adjective] > cold or keen keen1340 bleaky1687 scourya1774 naked1822 scything1822 shy1828 1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Shy, keen, piercing. ‘A shy wind’. b. ‘Not exactly fair for the ship's course’ ( Whitby Gloss., 1876). See Eng. Dial. Dict.[The origin of sense 8a is not clear; it may be a distinct word. Sense 8b seems a natural development from 2.] ΚΠ 1891 Cent. Dict. (at cited word) Scant. The wind is said to be shy when it will barely allow a vessel to sail on her course. Compounds General attributive. C1. shy-breeding adj. ΚΠ 1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist 447 The shy-breeding black sorts. shy-eyed adj. ΚΠ 1910 J. Masefield Ballads & Poems 80 The shy-eyed delicate deer. 1952 R. Finlayson Schooner came to Atia 118 Shy-eyed kiddies ran out to look. shy-footed adj. ΚΠ 1917 J. Masefield Lollingdon Downs 86 Shy-footed beauty dear. shy-looking adj. ΚΠ 1879 Alexina M. Ruthquist in Mem. (1893) 95 His shy-looking wife. shy-making adj. ΚΠ 1930 E. Waugh Vile Bodies ii. 19 I shall just ring up every Cabinet Minister and all the newspapers and give them all the most shy-making details. 1930 W. S. Maugham Cakes & Ale 23 Popular adjectives (like ‘divine’ or ‘shy-making’). 1930 Time & Tide 18 Oct. 1300 It is very shy-making to have a real Galsworthy to review. 1940 M. Allingham Black Plumes xv. 175 Great heroism, like great cowardice, is shy-making, and they were all..embarrassed. 1974 Listener 21 Nov. 677/1 Dr Ray rightly quotes enough of their shy-making exchanges. shy-retiring adj. ΚΠ 1743 R. Blair Grave 19 From stubborn Shrubs Thou wrung'st their shy retiring Virtues out, And vex'd them in the Fire. C2. shy-brightly adv. ΚΠ 1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. ix. [Scylla & Charybdis] 199 Eglintoneyes..looked up shybrightly. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online June 2022). shyv.¹ Brit. /ʃʌɪ/, U.S. /ʃaɪ/ Forms: Also 1600s shie, shye. Etymology: < shy adj.Old English had apparently a verb scýhan , scýan to take fright (= sense 3 below) < the adjective = Old High German schiuhen . Cf. the following quot. c1000:c1000 Ælfric Lives Saints xxxi. 971 Þa scyddon [MS. K. scyhdon] þa mulas þe þæt cræt tugon, ðurh his to-cyme afyrhte. 1. intransitive. To take a sudden fright or aversion; to make a difficulty, ‘boggle’ about doing something; to recoil, shrink. Const. at, from: rarely to with infinitive. Now usually felt as transferred from 2. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > be unwilling [verb (intransitive)] nillOE loathea1200 to make it tough1297 forthinka1300 reckc1300 ruea1400 to make (it) strangec1405 to make strangenessc1407 stick1418 resistc1425 to make (it) strange?1456 steek1478 tarrowc1480 doubt1483 sunyie1488 to make (it) nice1530 stay1533 shentc1540 to make courtesy (at)1542 to make it scrupulous1548 to think (it) much1548 to make dainty of (anything)1555 to lie aback1560 stand1563 steek1573 to hang back1581 erch1584 to make doubt1586 to hang the groin1587 to make scruple (also a, no, etc., scruple)1589 yearn1597 to hang the winga1601 to make squeamish1611 smay1632 bogglea1638 to hang off1641 waver1643 reluct1648 shy1650 reluctate1655 stickle1656 scruple1660 to make boggle1667 revere1689 begrudge1690 to have scruples1719 stopc1738 bitch1777 reprobate1779 crane1823 disincline1885 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > shrink or flinch fikec1220 wincha1250 withshontec1450 shrink1513 squitch1570 blanch1572 shruga1577 to shrink in the neck1581 wink1605 budgea1616 shy1650 shudder1668 flincha1677 wincea1748 the mind > emotion > fear > physical symptoms of fear > exhibit physical symptoms [verb (intransitive)] > cower or flinch wondec897 shuna1000 blencha1250 cowerc1300 scunnerc1425 cringea1525 to play couch-quaila1529 quail1544 winch1605 dwindle1612 blank1642 shy1650 scringec1700 funk?1746 flinch1883 curl1913 1650 N. Ward Discolliminium 40 Why [do] they shye so strangely at this new Ingagement? 1778 S. Crisp 8 Dec. in F. Burney Diary (1891) I. 93 I mean such freedoms as ladies of the strictest character..perhaps would shy at being known to be the authors of. 1783 F. Burney Diary 19 June (1842) II. 270 He was too well-bred to force himself upon me, and finding I shied, he left me alone. 1814 Word of Honor iii. i, in New Brit. Theatre I. 364 A man who loves another's wife, Will never shy to take a wife himself To screen his base intrigue. 1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice II. v. ii. 95 The more publicity is given to this arrangement, the more difficult for Evelyn to shy at the leap. 1889 M. Crommelin & J. M. Brown Violet Vyvian II. xv. 248 She is shying from the thought. 1911 J. M. Barrie Peter & Wendy v. 81 The only thing he shied at was the sight of his own blood. 1912 E. Glyn Halcyone xxvii. 245 He was not buried in that outer circle of oblivion from which the thoughts unconsciously shy. 2. Of a horse: To shrink or start back or aside through sudden fear. Const. at, rarely from. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > fear > physical symptoms of fear > exhibit physical symptoms [verb (intransitive)] > show signs of nervousness > (of mules and horses) shy shy1796 the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [verb (intransitive)] > shy start?a1513 skeigh1513 startle1576 flounder1592 shy1796 scotch1832 nap1953 starter pack1955 1796 J. Lawrence Philos. & Pract. Treat. Horses I. 166 Thorough-bred hacks are..the least liable to shy of all others. 1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward I. ix. 238 The horse shyed from the boar. 1861 T. P. Thompson Audi Alteram Partem III. 217 There is no use in being ill-humoured because a young horse shies. 1879 J. Beerbohm Wanderings in Patagonia 20 [The horse] stumbled on, occasionally shying wildly at the glimmering whiteness of some heap of bleached guanaco bones. 1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 342/1 (Driving) Shy, to spring suddenly either sideways or backwards from fear, or from excess of spirits. 3. to shy off (rarely to shy out of something, to shy away); To slip away in order to avoid a person or thing; figurative to find a means of evasion. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)] > avoid avoid1577 to shy out of1792 to fight shy1821 to run a mile1835 1792 Elvina I. 38 We are obliged to shy off. 1843 Miall in Nonconformist III. 209 Men who desire to get rid of the question..shy off, with wonderful dexterity from all allusions to it. 1856 D. Masson Ess. Biogr. & Crit. iv. 101 The style of poetry..as all modern readers confess by the alacrity with which they shy out of the way of reprinted specimens of it [etc.]. 1869 A. J. Evans Vashti xiii. 177 His blue eyes rather shied away from mine. 1894 A. Robertson Nuggets 111 Elsie was shying off from Alec. 4. a. transitive. To shun or avoid (a person, thing, or immaterial thing). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun overboweOE bibughOE fleea1000 forbowa1000 ashun1000 befleec1000 beflyc1175 bischunc1200 withbuwe?c1225 waive1303 eschew1340 refuse1357 astartc1374 sparec1380 shuna1382 void1390 declinea1400 forbeara1400 shurna1400 avoidc1450 umbeschewc1485 shewe1502 evite1503 devoid1509 shrink1513 schew?a1534 devite1549 fly1552 abstract1560 evitate1588 estrange1613 cut1791 shy1802 skulk1835 side-slip1930 to walk away from1936 punt1969 1802 J. Bentham Mem. & Corr. in Wks. (1843) X. 399 I am inclined to suspect he shies the subject. 1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London II. iii. 75 He has shied me lately. 1830 A. W. Fonblanque Eng. under Seven Admin. (1837) II. 50 His Grace [Wellington] had shyed the City Feast, being frightened by a Donkey. 1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. xvi. 274 Troubridge..was not a man to shy his work. 1872 A. Gray Lett. II. 623 I shy or refuse such applications generally. b. Pugilism. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > box [verb (transitive)] > actions parry1672 punish1801 pink1810 shy1812 sling1812 mug1818 weave1818 prop1846 feint1857 counter1861 cross-counter1864 slip1897 hook1898 unload1912 to beat a person to the punch1923 mitt1930 tag1938 counterpunch1964 1812 Sporting Mag. 39 22 It struck us that the Black shyed his adversary. 1819 Sporting Mag. n.s. 4 236 He had too much of the Teddy Tay spirit about him to wince or shy it. 5. To render timid or shy; to frighten off. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > causing physical symptoms > cause physical symptoms [verb (transitive)] > frighten away feezec890 shuncha1225 aschewelea1250 fearc1420 scarec1450 affray1487 fray1526 fright1599 lowbell1642 shy1845 1845 W. Youatt Dog iii. 84 A rate given at an improper time..disgusts the honest hound, it shies and prevents from hunting the timid one. 1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xxii. 173 A little projection of the main field to windward shied them off. Derivatives ˈshying n. and adj. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [noun] > shy or shying shy1791 shying1796 flounder1867 the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > [noun] > avoiding an action or condition > shrinking or recoiling wondingc1440 recoil1567 shrinking1580 flinching1600 shrugginga1617 reluctancea1628 blanching1642 smaying1678 shying1796 flinch1817 funking1823 blenching1868 recoiling1892 the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [adjective] > shying shyinga1900 1796 J. Lawrence Philos. & Pract. Treat. Horses I. 81 This was not the effect of starting or shying, to which she [the mare] was at no rate addicted. 1869 J. H. Newman in W. Ward Life Cardinal Newman (1912) II. 257 I hope my shying, as I do, will not keep you from speaking out. a1900 Duke of Argyll Autobiogr. (1906) II. 82 They seemed to go suddenly mad, like shying horses or stampeded mules. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022). shyv.² Brit. /ʃʌɪ/, U.S. /ʃaɪ/ Forms: Also 1700s shie. Etymology: Of obscure origin. The earliest use suggests that it may have arisen in some way from the expression shy cock n. Chiefly colloquial. 1. intransitive. To throw a missile, esp. carelessly or by a jerk. Const. at. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (intransitive)] > quickly or carelessly shy1787 1787 J. Bentham Def. Usury xiii. 164 All that he knows, all that he can know, is, that the enterprize is a project he looks upon as a sort of cock to shie at. 1790 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. (ed. 2) Shie, or Shy. To shy at a cock, to throw at a cock with a stick. Kent. 1820 J. H. Reynolds Fancy (1906) 34 I've shy'd with stick, to win a bit The backy-box of brown japan. 1840 T. De Quincey Mod. Superstition in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 563/1 To shy at a cow within six feet distance. 1851 W. M. Thackeray Stray Papers (1901) 269 Raikes..justly prided himself upon shying at the sticks better than any man in the army. 1889 Bodley in 19th Cent. Nov. 801 The Anglo-Saxon race alone is capable of propelling a missile in the method known as ‘shying’. 2. a. transitive. To fling, throw, jerk, toss; also with at, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (transitive)] > quickly or carelessly shy1793 1793 W. B. Stevens Jrnl. 26 Mar. (1965) i. 74 It was but the other day he thought that every man ought to shy Jack Dawson from their Houses and Lo now he is his dear friend. 1824 J. Badcock Boxiana IV. 261 The Birmingham Youth..also shied his castor with a confident air. 1831 E. J. Trelawny Adventures Younger Son I. vii. 47 He then shyed his gold-laced cocked hat. 1834 F. Marryat Jacob Faithful III. iv. 63 I wish he hadn't shied the cat at her. 1853 ‘C. Bede’ Adventures Mr. Verdant Green viii. 75 When you came to shy the empty bottles..he couldn't stand that sort of game. 1856 C. Reade It is never too Late I. xv. 276 He..shied the pieces of glass carefully over the wall. 1874 G. Walch Head over Heels 74 We could shy up our caps for a feller. 1880 L. Parr Adam & Eve 233 Her own glass and its contents were shyed to the other end of the room. 1886 G. Allen For Maimie's Sake xviii I shied the stuff away. b. transferred and figurative. ΚΠ 1827 W. Scott Jrnl. 26 Mar. (1941) 37 I cannot keep up with the world without shying a letter now and then. 1860 Sir H. Acland in J. B. Atlay Mem. (1903) 290 Washington..has a few palaces shied down upon a rubbishy heath. 1868 A. Helps Realmah (1876) 245 He would merely shy barbarous words, half-Latin, half-Greek at us. 1882 H. C. Merivale Faucit of Balliol II. ii. ii. 161 Then you bolted from Oxford, and shied up your fellowship. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.¹1791n.²1791adj.OEv.¹1650v.²1787
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shyn.1

shyn.2

shyadj.

Compounds

shyv.1

Derivatives

shyv.2

shyn.¹

shyn.²

shyv.¹

shyv.²