An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Scheu

by Friedrich Kluge

Scheu, feminine, ‘shyness, reserve, timidity,’ from Middle High German schiuhe, feminine, ‘shyness, horror,’ also ‘bugbear, scarecrow,’ whence Modern High German Scheuche. Allied to scheuen, scheuchen, verb, from Middle High German schiahen, ‘to be shy of, avoid, scare or chase away,’ Old High German sciuhen. Both the noun and verb are derivatives of Middle High German schiech, Old High German *scioh, ‘shy, bashful.’ Modern High German scheu, adjective, is based anew on the verb; compare Anglo-Saxon sčeóh, ‘timid,’ to which English shy is allied; Dutch schuw, ‘timid, shy.’ From the German cognates Italian schivare, ‘to avoid,’ is derived. See Scheusal.