~ 1
■ adjective ( ~er , ~est )
1》 nervous or timid in the company of other people.
↘( ~ of/about ) slow or reluctant to do.
↘[in combination ] having a specified dislike or aversion: camera-~.
↘(of a wild animal) reluctant to remain in sight of humans.
2》 ( ~ of ) informal less than; short of.
↘before.
3》 (of a plant) not bearing flowers or fruit well or prolifically.
■ verb ( shies , ~ing , shied ) (especially of a horse) start suddenly aside in fright.
↘( ~ from or ~ away from ) avoid through nervousness or lack of confidence.
■ noun a sudden startled movement, especially of a frightened horse.
Derivatives
~er noun
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
OE scēoh '(of a horse) easily frightened', of Gmc origin; cf. eschew .
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~ 2
■ verb ( shies , ~ing , shied ) fling or throw at a target.
■ noun ( plural shies ) (often in phr. have a ~ at ) an act of ~ing.
Origin
C18: of unknown origin.