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skittish

   Also found in: Wikipedia 0.12 sec.
skit·tish  (sktsh)
adj.
1. Moving quickly and lightly; lively.
2. Restlessly active or nervous; restive.
3. Undependably variable; mercurial or fickle.
4. Shy; bashful.
[Middle English, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse skjta, to shoot; see shoot.]
skittish·ly adv.
skittish·ness n.
skittish
Adjective
1. playful or lively
2. (of a horse) excitable and easily frightened [probably from Old Norse]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.skittish - unpredictably excitable (especially of horses)
spooky, flighty, nervous
excitable - easily excited
skittish
adjective nervous, lively, excitable, jumpy, restive, fidgety, highly strung, antsy (informal) << OPPOSITE calm


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Spirited horses, when not enough exercised, are often called skittish, when it is only play; and some grooms will punish them, but our John did not; he knew it was only high spirits.
Black Beauty by Sewell, Anna View in context
- he had cheerfully taken up his familiar business, and- like a well-fed but not overfat horse that feels himself in harness and grows skittish between the shafts- he dressed up in clothes as variegated and expensive as possible, and gaily and contentedly galloped along the roads of Poland, without himself knowing why or whither.
War and Peace by Tolstoy, Leo View in context
My maid is to be a model of discretion--an elderly woman, not a skittish young person who will only encourage me.
I Say No by Collins, Wilkie View in context
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