shrew
1[ shroo ]
/ ʃru /
noun
a woman of violent temper and speech; termagant.
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Words Popularized By Shakespeare That We Still UseWilliam Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616 and was baptized on April 26, 1564. His exact birthdate remains unknown, though it is conventionally taken to be the same as the day his "bones were interred." In his honor, we wanted to share some words popularized by the man himself.
Nearby words
shred, shredded wheat, shredder, shredding, shreveport, shrew, shrew mole, shrewd, shrewdie, shrewish, shrewmouse
Origin of shrew
1Related forms
shrew·like, adjectiveDefinition for shrew (2 of 2)
shrew
2[ shroo ]
/ ʃru /
noun
any of several small, mouselike insectivores of the genus Sorex and related genera, having a long, sharp snout.
Origin of shrew
2before 900; Middle English (only in compounds), Old English scrēawa
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for shrew
British Dictionary definitions for shrew
shrew
/ (ʃruː) /
noun
Also called: shrewmouse any small mouse-like long-snouted mammal, such as Sorex araneus (common shrew), of the family Soricidae: order Insectivora (insectivores)See also water shrew Related adjective: soricine
a bad-tempered or mean-spirited woman
Word Origin for shrew
Old English scrēawa; related to Old High German scrawaz dwarf, Icelandic skröggr old man, Norwegian skrugg dwarf
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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