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Shy   /ʃaɪ/   Listen
adjective
Shy  adj.  (compar. shyer; superl. shyest)  
1.
Easily frightened; timid; as, a shy bird. "The horses of the army... were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting."
2.
Reserved; coy; disinclined to familiar approach. "What makes you so shy, my good friend? There's nobody loves you better than I." "The embarrassed look of shy distress And maidenly shamefacedness."
3.
Cautious; wary; suspicious. "I am very shy of using corrosive liquors in the preparation of medicines." "Princes are, by wisdom of state, somewhat shy of thier successors."
4.
Inadequately supplied; short; lacking; as, the team is shy two players.(Slang)
5.
(Poker), Owing money to the pot; in cases where an opponent's bet has exceeded a player's available stake or chips, but the player chooses to continue playing the hand before adding the required bet to the pot. (Slang)
To fight shy. See under Fight, v. i.


verb
Shy  v. t.  To throw sidewise with a jerk; to fling; as, to shy a stone; to shy a slipper.


Shy  v. i.  (past & past part. shied; pres. part. shying)  To start suddenly aside through fright or suspicion; said especially of horses.


noun
Shy  n.  
1.
A sudden start aside, as by a horse.
2.
A side throw; a throw; a fling. "If Lord Brougham gets a stone in his hand, he must, it seems, have a shy at somebody."





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Shy" Quotes from Famous Books



... and shy of making itself known, gives me an interest in penetrating the secrets of your heart. You are thought indifferent; you seem to me insensible. Perhaps you are happy, and discreet in your happiness. Deign to tell me the secret of your soul, and be ...
— A History of the French Novel, Vol. 1 - From the Beginning to 1800 • George Saintsbury
... are not at all shy, and though not as neighborly and social as the Chickadee, or Snow-bird, still they will not fly away from ...
— Illustrated Science for Boys and Girls • Anonymous
... the far fields, the orchis grew. Many haps fall in the field Seldom seen by wishful eyes, But all her shows did Nature yield, To please and win this pilgrim wise. He saw the partridge drum in the woods; He heard the woodcock's evening hymn; He found the tawny thrushes' broods; And the shy hawk did wait for him; What others did at distance hear, And guessed within the thicket's gloom, Was shown to this philosopher, And at his ...
— Autobiography of Seventy Years, Vol. 1-2 • George Hoar
... I ought to do: to you most freely. You know me, both head and heart, and I will make what deductions your reasons may dictate to me. I can think of no other person [for your travelling companion]—what wonder? For the last years, I have been shy of all ...
— Reminiscences of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey • Joseph Cottle
... you can make off home if you feel fit," Fred told them, "and let me tell you my friend here and myself both feel mighty glad we happened to be as close by as we were. It taught you a lesson, I expect, Sam, and you'll fight shy of blow-holes in the rotten ...
— Fred Fenton Marathon Runner - The Great Race at Riverport School • Allen Chapman


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