definitions

skittish

[ skit-ish ]
/ ˈskɪt ɪʃ /
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adjective

apt to start or shy: a skittish horse.
restlessly or excessively lively: a skittish mood.
fickle; uncertain.
shy; coy.

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RELATED WORDS

jumpy, giddy, fearful, edgy, fickle, restive, excited, capricious, changeable, combustible, dizzy, excitable, fidgety, flighty, frivolous, harebrained, high-strung, irresponsible, lightheaded, lively

Nearby words

skit, skitch, skite, skitter, skittery, skittish, skittle, skittle out, skive, skiver, skivvy

Origin of skittish

1375–1425; late Middle English, perhaps derivative of the Scand source of skite1; see -ish1

Related forms

skit·tish·ly, adverbskit·tish·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for skittish

British Dictionary definitions for skittish

skittish

/ (ˈskɪtɪʃ) /

adjective

playful, lively, or frivolous
difficult to handle or predict
rare coy

Derived Forms

skittishly, adverbskittishness, noun

Word Origin for skittish

C15: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse skjōta to shoot; see -ish
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012