Coy
/kɔɪ/noun
Shy or modest, often in a playful manner.
Did you know?The word 'coy' has ties to the Middle English term for 'quiet' or 'reserved,' suggesting a deeper connection to the art of allure and seduction in social rituals.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kwet-
“to rest, to be quiet, to be still.”
Old English
OE
cū̆
“to conceal, to hide, to be shy.”
Middle English
ME
coi
“quiet, reserved, modest.”
15th Century
English
coy
“shy in a playful or flirtatious manner.”
Modern English
English
coy
“shy or modest, often in a teasing way.”