a quick throw; "he gave the ball a shy to the first baseman" throw quickly start suddenly, as from fight wary and distrustful; disposed to avoid persons or things; "shy of strangers" easily startled or frightened
A shy person is nervous and uncomfortable in the company of other people. She was a shy and retiring person off-stage He is painfully shy of women. + shyly shy·ly The children smiled shyly. + shyness shy·ness Eventually he overcame his shyness
A number or amount that is just shy of another number or amount is just under it. a high-school dropout rate just shy of 53% = short of. shied shying shies if a horse shies, it makes a sudden movement away from something because it is frightened