Shy a. [Compar. Shier or Shyer; superl. Shiest or Shyest.]
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]
To fight shy. See under Fight, v. i.
Fight v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fought p. pr. & vb. n. Fighting.]
1. To strive or contened 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.