adj.
Pronunciation: ' ko ̇ i
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, quiet, shy, from Anglo-French quoi, quei, koi quiet, from Latin quietus
Date: 14th century
1 a : shrinking from contact or familiarity <'tis but a kiss I beg, Why art thou coy ? ― Shakespeare> b : marked by cute, coquettish, or artful playfulness <using coy tricks to attract attention>
2 : showing reluctance to make a definite commitment <a coy response>
synonyms see SHY
– coy · ly adverb
– coy · ness noun