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.

Source : WordNet®

shy
     v 1: start suddenly, as from fight
     2: throw quickly
     [also: {shied}, {shyest}, {shyer}, {shiest}, {shier}]

shy
     adj 1: lacking self-confidence; "stood in the doorway diffident and
            abashed"; "problems that call for bold not timid
            responses"; "a very unsure young man" [syn: {diffident},
             {timid}, {unsure}]
     2: easily startled or frightened
     3: short; "eleven is one shy of a dozen" [syn: {shy(p)}]
     4: wary and distrustful; disposed to avoid persons or things;
        "shy of strangers"
     [also: {shied}, {shyest}, {shyer}, {shiest}, {shier}]

shy
     n : a quick throw; "he gave the ball a shy to the first baseman"
     [also: {shied}, {shyest}, {shyer}, {shiest}, {shier}]

shyer
     See {shy}