shy

1) A fling.

Lord Brougham could not lay the first stone to University College Hospital without having a fling at Oxford and Cambridge. If his Lordship gets a stone in his hand, he must, it seems, have a shy at somebody.--London Punch.

TO SHY

2) To throw a light substance, as a flat stone, or a shell, with a careless jerk.

Just to make matters lively, I headed up alongside of Molly, and shyed a few soft things at her, such as asking how she liked bar steaks cooked, and if Jim warn't equal in the elbow to a mad panter's tail, and such amusin' conversation.--Robb, Squatter's Life.

3) To turn aside, or start, as a horse; to sheer.--Forby.

This horse don't shy, does he? inquired Mr. Pickwick. Shy, sir? He wouldn't shy, if he was to meet a vaggin load of monkeys with their tails burnt off.--Pickwick Papers, Ch. V.

They drove to his assistance, but the horses shyed off at the terrific conduct of the bull.--Knickerbocker Mag., Vol. VI. p. 550.

4) To hang about.

I was kind of shying round and looking at the everlastin' sight of books, when he came in.--Maj. Downing, May-day in New York, p. 1.