An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Scheu

by Friedrich Kluge

Scheu, f., ‘shyness, reserve, timidity,’ from MidHG. schiuhe, f., ‘shyness, horror,’ also ‘bugbear, scarecrow,’ whence ModHG. Scheuche. Allied to scheuen, scheuchen, vb., from MidHG. schiahen, ‘to be shy of, avoid, scare or chase away,’ OHG. sciuhen. Both the noun and vb. are derivatives of MidHG. schiech, OHG. *scioh, ‘shy, bashful.’ ModHG. scheu, adj., is based anew on the vb.; comp. AS. sčeóh, ‘timid,’ to which E. shy is allied; Du. schuw, ‘timid, shy.’ From the G. cognates Ital. schivare, ‘to avoid,’ is derived. See Scheusal.