Shyest

Shy Shy (sh[imac]), a. [Compar. {Shier} (sh[imac]"[~e]r) or {Shyer}; superl. {Shiest} or {Shyest}.] [OE. schey, skey, sceouh, AS. sce['o]h; akin to Dan. sky, Sw. skygg, D. schuw, MHG. schiech, G. scheu, OHG. sciuhen to be or make timid. Cf. {Eschew}.] 1. Easily frightened; timid; as, a shy bird. [1913 Webster]

The horses of the army . . . were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

2. Reserved; coy; disinclined to familiar approach. [1913 Webster]

What makes you so shy, my good friend? There's nobody loves you better than I. --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster]

The embarrassed look of shy distress And maidenly shamefacedness. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]

3. Cautious; wary; suspicious. [1913 Webster]

I am very shy of using corrosive liquors in the preparation of medicines. --Boyle. [1913 Webster]

Princes are, by wisdom of state, somewhat shy of thier successors. --Sir H. Wotton. [1913 Webster]

4. Inadequately supplied; short; lacking; as, the team is shy two players.[Slang] [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

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] [PJC]

{To fight shy}. See under {Fight}, v. i. [1913 Webster]