What is "coy"

Coy \Coy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coyed (koid); p. pr. & vb. n. Coying.]

1. To allure; to entice; to decoy. [Obs.]

   A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets.
   --Bp. Rainbow.

2. To caress with the hand; to stroke.

   Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy.
   --Shak.

Coy \Coy\ (koi), a. [OE. coi quiet, still, OF. coi, coit, fr.L. quietus quiet, p. p. of quiescere to rest, quie rest; prob. akin to E. while. See While, and cf. Quiet, Quit, Quite.]

1. Quiet; still. [Obs.]
   --Chaucer.

2. Shrinking from approach or familiarity; reserved; bashful; shy; modest; -- usually applied to women, sometimes with an implication of coquetry.

   Coy, and difficult to win.
   --Cowper.

   Coy and furtive graces.
   --W. Irving.

   Nor the coy maid, half willings to be pressed, Shall kiss the cup, to pass it to the rest.
   --Goldsmith.

3. Soft; gentle; hesitating.

   Enforced hate, Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.
   --Shak.

   Syn: Shy; shriking; reserved; modest; bashful; backward; distant.

Coy \Coy\, v. i.

1. To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity. [Obs.]

   Thus to coy it, With one who knows you too!
   --Rowe.

2. To make difficulty; to be unwilling. [Obs.]

   If he coyed To hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home.
   --Shak.

early 14c., "quiet, modest, demure," from Old French coi, earlier quei "quiet, still, placid, gentle," ultimately from Latin quietus "resting, at rest" (see quiet (n.)). Meaning "shy" emerged late 14c. Meaning "unwilling to commit" is 1961. Related: Coyly; coyness.

Etymology 1

1. 1 (context dated English) bashful, shy, retiring. 2 (context archaic English) 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. 5 Soft, gentle, hesitating. v

2. 1 (context transitive obsolete English) To caress, pet; to coax, entice. 2 (context transitive obsolete English) To calm or soothe. 3 To allure; to decoy. Etymology 2

   n. A trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.

1. adj. affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way [syn: demure, overmodest]

2. showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement; "a politician coy about his intentions"

3. modestly or warily rejecting approaches or overtures; "like a wild young colt, very inquisitive but very coy and not to be easily cajoled"

The term Coy may refer to:

Places:

• Coy, Spain, a town in the municipality of Lorca, Spain
• Coy, Arkansas, a small town in Lonoke County, Arkansas
• Coy, Alabama, an unincorporated community
• Coy Burn, a stream in Scotland

Coy is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include:

Surname:

• Bernard Coy (1991), an American bank robber, famous for trying to escape from Alcatraz prison
• Bobby Coy, English former football player
• Eric Coy, Canadian Olympic discus thrower and shot putter
• John Coy, American children's book author
• Jeffrey Coy, former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• Jonathan Coy, British actor
• Juan Coy, Minister of State for Human Development in Belize
• Michelle Coy, British bobsledder
• Randi Coy, participant in the reality show My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance
• Steve Coy, English drummer, manager, producer, and songwriter for new wave band Dead or Alive
• Ted Coy, American college football player
• Wayne Coy, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (1947-1952)

Given name:

• Coy Gibbs, former NASCAR car driver and National Football League (NFL) assistant coach
• Coy Bacon, former NFL player
• Coy Bowles, guitarist and keyboardist in Zac Brown Band
• Coy Wire, NFL player
• Coy Watson, Jr., American child actor
• Coy Cook, American singer
• Coy Privette, Baptist pastor and politician under the shadow of a scandal

Fictional characters:

• Coy Duke, fictional character on the TV show The Dukes of Hazzard