shrew的词源

英文词源

shrew (n.): small insectivorous mammal, Old English screawa "shrew-mouse," unknown outside English, and "the absence of evidence for the word between the OE. period and the 16th c is remarkable" [OED]. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *skraw-, from PIE *skreu- "to cut; cutting tool" (see shred (n.)), in reference to the shrew's pointed snout. Alternative Old English word for it was scirfemus, from sceorfan "to gnaw."

The meaning "peevish, malignant, clamorous, spiteful, vexatious, turbulent woman" [Johnson] is late 14c., from earlier sense of "spiteful person" (male or female), mid-13c., traditionally said to derive from some supposed malignant influence of the animal, which was once believed to have a venomous bite and was held in superstitious dread (compare beshrew). Paired with sheep from 1560s as the contrasting types of wives.

来自古英语 screawa,鼩鼱，可能最终来自 PIE*sker,切，劈，词源同 shear,share,shard.词义由切，劈引申词义咬，后用以命名这种老鼠，因其尖利的牙齿而得名。引申词义泼妇，悍妇。

该词的英语词源请访问找单词词源英文版：shrew 词源，shrew 含义。