Main Entry:

¹shrew

Pronunciation:

\ˈshrü, especially Southern ˈsrü\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English shrewe evil or scolding person, from Old English scrēawa shrew (animal)

Date:

before 12th century

1 : any of a family (Soricidae) of small chiefly nocturnal insectivores related to the moles and distinguished by a long pointed snout, very small eyes, and short velvety fur 2 : an ill-tempered scolding woman

— shrew·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective