[shrew] n [ME shrewe evil or scolding person, fr. OE screawa shrew (animal)] (bef. 12c) 1: any of a family (Soricidae) of small chiefly nocturnal insectivores related to the moles and distinguished by a long pointed snout, very small eyes, and velvety fur
2: an ill-tempered scolding woman -- shrew.like adj
[2]shrew vt (14c) obs: curse