scare

Etymology 1

From Middle English sker, skere (“terror, fright”), from the verb Middle English skerren (“to frighten”) (see below).

noun

1. A minor fright.
   Johnny had a bad scare last night.
   England were held to a draw after surviving a major scare against Switzerland as they were forced to come from two goals behind to earn a point in the Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley. June 4, 2011, Phil McNulty, “England 2 - 2 Switzerland”, in BBC
2. A cause of slight terror; something that inspires fear or dread.
   a food-poisoning scare
3. A device or object used to frighten.
   But I admit the possibility of their being used as "scares" for either birds of prey or snakes, or both. 1948, Alec H. Chisholm, Bird Wonders of Australia, page 153

Etymology 2

From Middle English scaren, skaren, scarren, skeren, skerren, from Old Norse skirra (“to frighten; to shrink away from, shun; to prevent, avert”), from Proto-Germanic *skirzijaną (“to shoo, scare off”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to swing, jump, move”). Related to Old Norse skjarr (“timid, shy, afraid of”). Cognate with Scots skar (“wild, timid, shy”), dialectal Norwegian Nynorsk skjerra, dialectal Swedish skjarra and possibly Old Armenian ցիռ (cʿiṙ, “wild ass”).

verb

1. To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way.
   Did it scare you when I said "Boo!"?
   (Laurel Stevenson) Would you please be quiet? You're scaring the little girl. (Craig Toomey) Scaring the little girl?! Scaring the little girl?! Lady! 1995, The Langoliers

Etymology 3

adj

1. lean; scanty