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skittish

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The definition of skittish is jumpy or easy to frighten.

(adjective)

A horse that gets very nervous at every little sound and that jumps and runs whenever he hears a noise is an example of a horse that would be described as skittish.

See skittish in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

lively or playful, esp. in a coy manner
easily frightened; jumpy: a skittish horse
fickle or undependable

Origin: ME: see skit & -ish

Related Forms:

skittishly adverb
skittishness noun

See skittish in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Moving quickly and lightly; lively.
Restlessly active or nervous; restive.
Undependably variable; mercurial or fickle.
Shy; bashful.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , perhaps of Scandinavian origin

Origin: ; akin to Old Norse skjōta, to shoot; see shoot

Related Forms:

skitˈtish·ly adverb

skitˈtish·ness noun

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