Obs. Also 4 eschiewe, 4–5 eschu(e. [a. OF. eschieu (nom. eschif), corresp. to Pr. eschiu, Sp. esquivo, It. schivo:—Com. Romanic *skivo, of Teut. origin: cf. OHG. *sciuh (MHG. schiech, mod.Ger. scheu), OE. scéoh SHY.]
1. Disinclined, loth, unwilling. Const. of or to with inf.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 897. He þat ofte falleth in synne … is the moore eschew [v.r. eschewe, eschue, eschiewe] for to shryuen hym. Ibid. (c. 1386), Merch. T., 568. To eten hem alle he nas no thyng eschu [v.r. eschewe, eschwe].
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 286. She is escheue of bothe two.
a. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 136. Vertu So excellent, that to feble is my witte To expresse it; wherfore I am eschu To medle, or make a long sermoun of itte.
2. ? Objectionable, to be avoided.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 528. Dounge of foules is ful necessarie To lond tillynge; yit gooses dounge eschew is. Ibid., IV. 586. Her taste is eke eschewe In places weet.
