skittish
pronunciation
How to pronounce skittish in British English:
UK [ˈskɪtɪʃ]
How to pronounce skittish in American English:
US [ˈskɪtɪʃ]
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- Adjective:
- unpredictably excitable (especially of horses)
Word Origin
- skittish (adj.)
- early 15c., "very lively, frivolous," perhaps from Scandinavian base *skyt- (stem of Old Norse skjota "to shoot, launch, move quickly"), from PIE root *skeud- "to shoot, to chase, to throw, to project" (see shoot (v.)). Sense of "shy, nervous, apt to run" first recorded c. 1500, of horses. Related: Skittishly; skittishness.
Example
- 1. Do they know something about china other skittish investors are missing ?
- 2. Then there were skittish suppliers , one of whom blockaded his firm 's entrance .
- 3. She should be a skittish woman .
- 4. And you tell me this woman is skittish .
- 5. She must have seen him getting skittish .