adjective shyer or shier, shyest or shiest
- easily frightened or startled; timid
- not at ease with other people; extremely self-conscious; bashful
- showing distrust or caution; wary
- not bearing or breeding well, as some plants; unproductive
- ☆ Slang
- not having paid money due, as one's poker ante
- lacking; short (on or of)
Origin:
ME schei, dial. development < OE sceoh, akin to Ger scheu, shy, prob. < IE *skeuk-, harassed (> OSlav ščuti, to pursue); akin to *skeub- > scoff
intransitive verb shied, shying
- to move suddenly as when startled; jump; start; recoil: the horse shied at the gunshot
- to react negatively; be or become cautious or unwilling; draw back: often with at or from
noun pl. shies
an act of shying; start, as of a horse