Skittishness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Skittish \Skit"tish\, a. [See {Skit}, v. t.]
     1. Easily frightened; timorous; shy; untrustworthy; as, a
        skittish colt. "A restiff, skittish jade." --L'Estrange.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Wanton; restive; freakish; volatile; changeable; fickle.


        "Skittish Fortune's hall." --Shak.
        [1913 Webster] -- {Skit"tish*ly}, adv. --
        {Skit"tish*ness}, n.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  skittishness
       n : characterized by nervousness and quickness to take fright
           [syn: {restiveness}]