shrow

Noun

shrow (plural shrows)

1. (obsolete) A shrew.
   • 1575, Thomas Churchyard, The Firste Parte of Churchyardes Chippes Contayning Twelue Seuerall Labours, London: Thomas Marshe, [p. 49b],

     What Hawke can sit, in peace for carraine crow?

     What tongue can scape, the skolding of a shrow.

   • 1581, Arthur Hall (translator), Ten Books of Homers Iliades, translated out of French, London: Ralph Newberie, Book 1, p. 12,

     For Neptune ioyned with Pallas, and Iuno Dame that shrowe,

     Had enterprisde to bind his hands, & down the heauens him throwe.

   • c. 1593, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, Act V, Scene 2,

     Hortensio. Now go thy ways; thou hast tam’d a curst shrow.

     Lucentio. ’Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam’d so.

   • 1689, Nathaniel Lee, The Princess of Cleve, London, Act II, Scene 2, p. 21,

     Any Man of Wit and Sense like us, Charms all Women, as one Key unlocks all Doors at Court—Nay, I’ll say a bold word for my self, Turn me to the sharpest Shrow that ever Bit or Scratch’d, if I do not make her feed out of my hand like a tame Pidgeon, may I be condemn’d to lye with my Wife.

References

• shrow in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913