became Middle English: animal name became a hostile label for a person
Middle English
shrewe
‘An evil or scolding person’
within Middle English: A person label became an adjective of mischief
Middle English
shrewed
‘Mischievous or malicious’
became English: mischief and cunning became practical cleverness
English
shrewd
‘Astute or keen-witted’
The story of shrewd
A compliment to someone’s judgment has an animal and an insult in its history.
Old English scrēawa named the shrew. Middle English shrewe could label an evil or scolding person, and shrewed described mischief or malice. Shrewd later developed its familiar practical-cleverness sense.