verb. (American).—To scare. Hence SKEERY (SKARY, SCARY) = (1) dreadful; (2) frightened, nervous.
1582. STANYHURST, Æneis, iv. 438. But toe the, poore Dido, this sight so SKEARYE beholding.
1825. NEAL, Brother Jonathan, I. iv. Ye wasn’t SKEERED, nor nothin’, was ye, tho’.
1841. W. G. SIMMS, The Kinsmen, xiii. ‘Don’t you be SCAREY,’ said he.
1847. ROBB, Streaks of Squatter Life, 109. I got a little SKARY, and, a good deal mad.
c. 1852. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), ed. Traits of American Humour, I. 222. He’s the SCARIEST horse, too, you ever saw.
1869. BLACKMORE, Lorna Doone, lix. The horses were a little SKEARY.
1880. Scribner’s Magazine, Jan., 332. I seen they was mighty SKEERED.
1885. HAWLEY SMART, Struck Down, xi. Women get SKEARY, and desperate afraid of being compromised.
1892. WHITTIER, The Wreck of Rivermouth.
| ‘She’s cursed,’ said the skipper; ‘speak her fair; | |
| I’m SCARY always to see her shake | |
| Her wicked hand, with its wild gray hair, | |
| And nose like a hawk, and eyes like a snake.’ |
