Shy — Defs

01 a. Easily frightened; timid; as, a shy bird.

1.
Easily frightened; timid; as, a shy bird.
“The horses of the army . . . were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting.” — Swift.
2.
Reserved; coy; disinclined to familiar approach.
“What makes you so shy, my good friend? There's nobody loves you better than I.” — Arbuthnot.

“The embarrassed look of shy distress And maidenly shamefacedness.” — Wordsworth.
3.
Cautious; wary; suspicious.
“I am very shy of using corrosive liquors in the preparation of medicines.” — Boyle.

“Princes are, by wisdom of state, somewhat shy of thier successors.” — Sir H. Wotton.
4.
Inadequately supplied; short; lacking; as, the team is shy two players.[Slang]
5.
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.(Poker) [Slang]

Phrases & compounds

To fight shy — See under Fight, v. i.

02 v. i. To start suddenly aside through fright or suspicion; -- said especially of horses.

imp. & p. p. Shied; p. pr. & vb. n. Shying

1.
To start suddenly aside through fright or suspicion; -- said especially of horses.

03 v. t. To throw sidewise with a jerk; to fling; as, to shy a stone; to shy a slipper.

1.
To throw sidewise with a jerk; to fling; as, to shy a stone; to shy a slipper.

04 n. A sudden start aside, as by a horse.

1.
A sudden start aside, as by a horse.
2.
A side throw; a throw; a fling.
“If Lord Brougham gets a stone in his hand, he must, it seems, have a shy at somebody.” — Punch.