Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
SHY
I. adjective (shier or shyer; shiest or shyest)
Etymology: Middle English schey, from Old English scēoh; akin to Old High German sciuhen to frighten off Date: before 12th century easily frightened ; timid , disposed to avoid a person or thing , hesitant in committing oneself ; circumspect , sensitively diffident or retiring ; reserved , secluded , hidden , having less than the full or specified amount or number ; short , disreputable , shyly adverb shyness noun Synonyms: see: shy
II. intransitive verb (shied; shying)
Date: 1649
to develop or show a dislike or distaste, to start suddenly aside through fright or alarm,
III. noun (plural shies)
Date: 1791
a sudden start aside (as from fright),
IV. verb (shied; shying)
Etymology: perhaps from 1shy
Date: 1787
intransitive verb to make a sudden throw, transitive verb to throw (an object) with a jerk ; fling ,
V. noun (plural shies)
Date: 1791
the act of shying ; toss , throw , a verb al fling or attack, cockshy