Definition of SHREW

shrew

Meanings

Plural: shrews

Noun

  • a scolding nagging bad-tempered woman
  • small mouselike mammal with a long snout; related to moles
  • Any of numerous small, mouselike, chiefly nocturnal, mammals of the family Soricidae.
  • Certain other small mammals that resemble true shrews.
  • An ill-tempered, nagging woman: a scold.

Verb

  • To beshrew; to curse.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English *schrewe, from Old English sċrēawa (“shrew”), from Proto-Germanic *skrawwaz (“thin; meagre; frail”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut; shorten; skimp”). Cognates include Old High German scrawaz (“dwarf”), Norwegian skrugg (“dwarf”).

Scrabble Score: 11

shrew is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
shrew is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
shrew is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

shrew is a valid Words With Friends word