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shy (iou)



shy verb2 & noun2. Chiefly colloq. L18.
[Origin unkn.]
A. verb.
verb trans. & intrans. Throw or fling (a missile) carelessly or casually, esp. at or at a particular target. L18.
Thackeray Shying at the sticks better than any man in the army. P. Matthiessen Shying quick stones to keep the beasts in line.
verb trans. fig. Produce, deliver, or discard carelessly or casually. E19.
Sir W. Scott I cannot keep up with the world without shying a letter now and then.
b. noun.
A quick or casual throw, esp. at a particular target. L18.
COCONUT shy.
Dickens Jack-in-the-boxthree shies a penny.
b. A point scored in the Eton College wall game. M19.
fig.
a. An attempt, a try. E19.
C. Gibbon Have a shy at putting the case..to me.
b. A sarcastic usu. verbal attack. M19.
Thackeray You are always having a shy at Lady Ann and her relations.