shy

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Nervous or uncomfortable around other people.

   He is very shy with strangers.

2. 2
   adj

   Slightly less than a particular amount or number.

   Our shipment came up two shy of the amount on the invoice.

3. 3
   verb

   To avoid doing something because of fear, shyness, or embarrassment.

   She tends to shy away from speaking in public.

4. 4
   verb

   Of a horse, to jump back suddenly in fear.

   The horse shied at the unexpected sound of the car.

Multiword verbs with shy

• shy away from Phrasal-prepositional verb B1

  to avoid something because of fear, discomfort, or reluctance

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Shy descends from Old English scēoh, originally used of horses that were easily frightened. Its application to people is recorded from the early 17th century and may be older. The separate verb shy, “to fling or throw,” appeared in the late 18th century and has an unknown origin.

From Middle English shy (“shy”), from Old English sċēoh (“shy”), from Proto-West Germanic *skeuh (“shy, fearful”), from Proto-Germanic *skeuhaz (“shy, fearful”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian skjou (“shy”), Dutch schuw (“shy”), German scheu (“shy”), Danish sky (“shy”). Etymology tree Middle English shy English shy

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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary