scheu

from Proto-West Germanic *skeuh.

• IPA^(key): /sxøː/
• Rhymes: -øː

scheu (comparative scheuer, superlative scheust)

1. queer

From Middle High German schiech, schiehe, schie, schiuch, schiuhe, schūche, from Old High German *skioh, from Proto-West Germanic *skeuh.

The modern form goes back to the Central German forms with -iu-, -ū-. These are usually interpreted as alterations based on Scheu (noun) and scheuen (verb), though this does not seem unquestionable in view of Middle Dutch schu, Middle Low German schǖ. The form with -ie- remains in dialectal Upper German schiech (“ugly”). Cognate with Dutch schuw, English shy.

• IPA^(key): /ʃɔʏ̯/

• Audio:

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• Rhymes: -ɔɪ̯

scheu (strong nominative masculine singular scheuer, comparative scheuer, superlative am scheuesten or am scheusten)

1. shy (reserved)

   Synonyms: zurückhaltend, schüchtern

2. shy, skittish, startlish (easily frightened)

   Synonym: schreckhaft

   scheu wie ein Reh

• Compare schüchtern for notes on the distinction between these semantically similar words.

• wasserscheu
• kamerascheu

• schüchtern
• zaghaft
• zurückhaltend

• “scheu” in Duden online
• “scheu” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

From Old English hēo.

scheu

1. Alternative form of sche

From Old French escu.

scheu

1. Alternative form of skew (“gable stone”)