Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - shy

1. adj., v., & n. --adj. (shyer, shyest or shier, shiest) 1 a diffident or uneasy in company; timid. b (of an animal, bird, etc.) easily startled; timid. 2 (foll. by of) avoiding; chary of (shy of his aunt; shy of going to meetings). 3 (in comb.) showing fear of or distaste for (gun-shy; work-shy). 4 (often foll. by of, on) colloq. having lost; short of (I'm shy three quid; shy of the price of admission). --v.intr. (shies, shied) 1 (usu. foll. by at) (esp. of a horse) start suddenly aside (at an object, noise, etc.) in fright. 2 (usu. foll. by away from, at) avoid accepting or becoming involved in (a proposal etc.) in alarm. --n. a sudden startled movement. Derivatives shyer n. shyly adv. (also shily). shyness n. Etymology: OE sceoh f. Gmc 2. v. & n. --v.tr. (shies, shied) (also absol.) fling or throw (a stone etc.). --n. the act or an instance of shying. Phrases and idioms have a shy at colloq. 1 try to hit with a stone etc. 2 make an attempt at. 3 jeer at. Derivatives shyer n. Etymology: 18th c.: orig. unkn.