coy

views updated May 23 2018

coy / koi/ • adj. (coy·er, coy·est) (esp. of a woman) making a pretense of shyness or modesty that is intended to be alluring but is often regarded as irritating. ∎  reluctant to give details, esp. about something regarded as sensitive: he is coy about his age. ∎ dated quiet and reserved; shy.DERIVATIVES: coy·ly adv.coy·ness n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

coy

views updated May 23 2018

coy †quiet, still; shyly reserved. XIV. — (O)F. coi, earlier quei :- Rom. *quētus, for L. quiētus QUIET. Cf. QUIT 1.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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