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.
实用例句
1. He found himself married to a vulgar shrew.
他发现自己跟一个俗不可耐的悍妇结了婚.
来自辞典例句
2. North American shrew with tail less than half its body length.
北美洲鼩鼱,尾巴比其身体的一半还短.
来自互联网
3. The shrew stands at the door and keeps shouting abuse.
那个泼妇站在门口,不停地嫚骂.
来自互联网
4. The nice girl he had married grew into a shrew.
