shy1
adj.
(shyer, shyest)
- nervous or timid in the company of other people.
▸
(shy of/about)
slow or reluctant to do.
▸
[
in combination]
having a specified dislike or aversion:
camera-shy.
▸(of a wild animal) reluctant to remain in sight of humans.
-
(shy of)
informal less than; short of.
▸before.
- (of a plant) not bearing flowers or fruit well or prolifically.
v.
(shies, shying, shied)
(especially of a horse) start suddenly aside in fright.
▸
(shy from or shy away from)
avoid through nervousness or lack of confidence.
n.
a sudden startled movement, especially of a frightened horse.
Derivative
- shyer n.
- shyly adv.
- shyness n.
Etymology
OE scēoh ‘(of a horse) easily frightened’, of Gmc origin; cf. eschew.
shy2
v.
(shies, shying, shied)
fling or throw at a target.
n.
(pl. shies)
(
often in phr. have a shy at)
an act of shying.
Etymology
C18: of unknown origin.