Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Shy \Shy\ (sh[imac]), a. [Compar. {Shier} (-[~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.

            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.

   {To fight shy}. See under {Fight}, v. i.

Fight \Fight\ (f[imac]t), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Fought}
   (f[add]t); p. pr. & vb. n. {Fighting}.] [OE. fihten, fehten,
   AS. feohtan; akin to D. vechten, OHG. fehtan, G. fechten, Sw.
   f["a]kta, Dan. fegte, and perh. to E. fist; cf. L. pugnare to
   fight, pugnus fist.]
   1. To strive or contend for victory, with armies or in single
      combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy,
      either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; --
      followed by with or against.

            You do fight against your country's foes. --Shak.

            To fight with thee no man of arms will deign.
                                                  --Milton.

   2. To act in opposition to anything; to struggle against; to
      contend; to strive; to make resistance.

   {To fight shy}, to avoid meeting fairly or at close quarters;
      to keep out of reach.