Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SHREW, n. [I know not the original sense of this word. If it signifies a brawler, it may be from D. schreeuwen, to brawl, G. schreien, Dan. skriger. But beshrew, in Chaucer, is interpreted to curse.]

1. A peevish, brawling, turbulent, vexatious woman. It appears originally to have been applied to males as well as females; but is now restricted to the latter. The man had got a shrew for his wife, and there could be no quiet in the house with her. – L'Estrange.
2. A shrew-mouse.