Webster's English Dictionary

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shy

1. shy \'shi-\ \'shi-(-*)r\ \'shi-*st\ aj or shi.er or shy.er;  or shi.est; 
    or shy.est [ME schey, fr. OE sce-oh; akin to OHG sciuhen to frighten]off, 
   OSlav shachek>chachek>uti to chase 1: easily frightened : TIMID  2: 
   disposed to avoid a person or thing : DISTRUSTFUL  3: hesitant in 
   committing oneself : CHARY  4: marked by sensitive diffidence : BASHFUL  5: 
   HIDDEN, SECLUDED  6a: very light : SCANT  6b: DEFICIENT, LACKING  7: 
   DISREPUTABLE {~ saloon} mplies a timid reserve and a shrinking from 
   familiarity or contact with others; BASHFUL implies a frightened or 
   hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence; DIFFIDENT 
   stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation 
   in acting or speaking; MODEST suggests absence of undue confidence or 
   conceit; COY implies an assumed or affected shyness SYN syn BASHFUL, 
   DIFFIDENT, MODEST, COY: SHY i 
2. shy vi or shied;  or shy.ing 1: to develop or show a sudden dislike or 
   distaste : RECOIL { shied from publicity} 2: to start suddenly aside 
   through fright or alarm 
3. shy n or shies pl  : a sudden start aside (as of a horse) 
4. shy vb or shied;  or shy.ing [perh. fr. 1shy] : to throw with a jerk : 
   FLING 
5. shy n or shies pl  1: the act of shying : TOSS, THROW  2: a verbal fling 
    3: COCKSHY