different between coy vs coly

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k??/
• Rhymes: -??
• Homophone: koi

Etymology 1

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

Adjective

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," 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.
   • 1594, William Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece

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

Derived terms

• coyly
• coyness

Related terms

Translations

Verb

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.

Etymology 2

Compare decoy.

Noun

coy (plural coys)

1. A trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.

Etymology 3

Abbreviation of company.

Noun

coy (plural coys)

1. (military) A company

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “coy”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Anagrams

• CYO

Huave

Etymology 1

Noun

coy

1. rheumatism

References

• 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

Noun

coy

1. rabbit

References

• 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

Noun

coy

1. short tail, stub

References

• 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

Middle French

Alternative forms

• coi
• quoy

Etymology

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

Adjective

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

1. (of a person) calm; composed

Descendants

• French: coi

Spanish

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?koi/, [?koi?]

Noun

coy m (plural coyes or cois)

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

Wastek

Noun

coy

1. rabbit

English

Wikispecies

Etymology

New Latin colius, probably from Ancient Greek ?????? (koliós, “a kind of woodpecker”).

Noun

coly (plural colies)

1. Any bird of either of the genera Colius or Urocolius, endemic to sub-Saharan Africa.
   • 1999, Michael A. Mares, Mousebird, entry in Encyclopedia of Deserts, page 378,

     Coliiformes is the only order of birds endemic to Africa. Six species from two genera (Urocolius and Colius) are recognized, all of which are sedentary. Mousebirds (also known as colies) range through sub-Saharan open savannas and are often common in such areas.

Usage notes

Extant species of order Coliiformes are classified into the genera Colius and Urocolius, both in family Coliidae.

Synonyms

• (bird): mousebird

See also

• Coliiformes (order)
• Coliidae (family)

Anagrams

• cloy