Wiktionary

coy

See also: Coy and cố ý

English edit

WOTD – 15 July 2007

Pronunciation edit

Etymology 1 edit

From Middle English coy, from Old French coi, earlier quei (“quiet, still”), from Latin quiētus (“resting, at rest”). Doublet of quiet.

Adjective edit

coy (comparative coyer, superlative coyest)

  1. (dated) Bashful, shy, retiring.
  2. (archaic) Quiet, reserved, modest.
  3. Reluctant to give details about something sensitive; notably prudish.
  4. Pretending shyness or modesty, especially in an insincere or flirtatious way.
    • 1981, A. D. Hope, “His Coy Mistress to Mr. Marvell”, in A Book of Answers:
      The ill-bred miss, the bird-brained Jill, / May simper and be coy at will; / A lady, sir, as you will find, / Keeps counsel, or she speaks her mind, / Means what she says and scorns to fence / And palter with feigned innocence.
  5. Soft, gentle, hesitating.
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷyeh₁-‎ (0 c, 18 e)
Translations edit
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb edit

coy (third-person singular simple present coys, present participle coying, simple past and past participle coyed)

  1. (transitive, obsolete) To caress, pet; to coax, entice.
  2. (transitive, obsolete) To calm or soothe.
  3. (transitive, obsolete) To allure; to decoy.
    • 1635, Edward Rainbowe, Labour Forbidden, and Commanded. A Sermon Preached at St. Pauls[sic] Church, September 28. 1634., London: Nicholas Vavasour, page 29:
      For now there are ſprung up a wiſer generation in this kind, who have the Art to coy the fonder ſort into their nets

Etymology 2 edit

Compare decoy.

Noun edit

coy (plural coys)

  1. A trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.

Etymology 3 edit

Abbreviation of company.

Noun edit

coy (plural coys)

  1. (military) A company

References edit

Anagrams edit

Huave edit

Etymology 1 edit

Noun edit

coy

  1. rheumatism

References edit

  • Stairs Kreger, Glenn Albert, Scharfe de Stairs, Emily Florence, Olvaries Oviedo, Proceso, Ponce Villanueva, Tereso, Comonfort Llave, Lorenzo (1981) Diccionario huave de San Mateo del Mar (Serie de vocabularios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 24)‎[1] (in Spanish), México, D.F.: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, pages 88, 205, 268

Etymology 2 edit

Noun edit

coy

  1. rabbit

References edit

  • Stairs Kreger, Glenn Albert, Scharfe de Stairs, Emily Florence, Olvaries Oviedo, Proceso, Ponce Villanueva, Tereso, Comonfort Llave, Lorenzo (1981) Diccionario huave de San Mateo del Mar (Serie de vocabularios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 24)‎[2] (in Spanish), México, D.F.: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, pages 88, 212, 416

Etymology 3 edit

Noun edit

coy

  1. short tail, stub

References edit

  • Stairs Kreger, Glenn Albert, Scharfe de Stairs, Emily Florence, Olvaries Oviedo, Proceso, Ponce Villanueva, Tereso, Comonfort Llave, Lorenzo (1981) Diccionario huave de San Mateo del Mar (Serie de vocabularios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 24)‎[3] (in Spanish), México, D.F.: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, pages 88, 211, 265

Indonesian edit

Noun edit

coy (first-person possessive coyku, second-person possessive coymu, third-person possessive coynya)

  1. (slang) bro, guy

Middle French edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Old French coi, from Vulgar Latin quetus, from Latin quietus.

Adjective edit

coy m (feminine singular coye, masculine plural coys, feminine plural coyes)

  1. (of a person) calm; composed

Descendants edit

  • French: coi

Spanish edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Dutch kooi (“bunk”). Doublet of gavia and cávea.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈkoi/ [ˈkoi̯]
  • Rhymes: -oi
  • Syllabification: coy

Noun edit

coy m (plural coyes or cois)

  1. (nautical) a type of hammock made of sailcloth used as a makeshift bunk

Further reading edit

Wastek edit

Noun edit

coy

  1. rabbit
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