shrew English · revision 1171

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʃɹuː/, /ʃɹɪu̯/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''shrewe'' “villain, rascal”,^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from Old English ''scrēawa'' “shrewmouse”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) a word not found elsewhere in Germanic and of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Etymonline mentions a possible link with a root meaning “to cut”, for the pointed snout.^(Etymonline) The sense of a scolding person is traditionally explained by superstitions about the animal, which was thought to be venomous and harmful,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) though the OED treats the two senses as separate words.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The animal is named in Old English (about 725).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) The sense of a wicked person or rascal is recorded about 1225–50.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From about 1300 the word was used especially for a scolding, bad-tempered woman,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) which became its main figurative sense.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) In the 16th and 17th centuries shrews and sheep were paired as the two contrasting types of wife.^(Etymonline) Shakespeare's ''The Taming of the Shrew'' is the best-known use.^(Wiktionary) The animal sense is not recorded between Old English and 1538.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 725 – Old English ''scrēawa'', the animal.^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1225 – ''schrewe'', a rascal.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1300 – a scolding woman.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1538 – the animal, again in English.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1565 – ''shrewish''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any of various small, chiefly [[insectivore|alt=insectivorous]] mammals resembling mice, with a long pointed snout and small eyes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A bad-tempered, scolding or nagging woman; a [[scold]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(obsolete)'' To [[curse]].^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[shrewlike]]

+ * [[shrewd]]

+ * [[shrewish]]

+ * [[shrew mole]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[beshrew]]

+ * [[virago]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''virago'', ''nag'' and ''scold'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}