Coy — Defs

01 a. Quiet; still.

1.
Quiet; still.[Obs.]
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.

02 v. t. To allure; to entice; to decoy.

imp. & p. p. Coyed; 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.

03 v. i. To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity.

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.