What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Coo vs Coy - What's the difference?

coo | coy |

As verbs the difference between coo and coy

is that coo is while coy is (obsolete) to caress, pet; to coax, entice.

As an adjective coy is

(dated) bashful, shy, retiring.

As a noun coy is

a trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.

coo

English

Etymology 1

Of onomatopoetic/imitative origin.

Noun

(-)
  • The murmuring sound made by a dove or pigeon.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (transitive, or, intransitive) To make a soft murmuring sound, as a pigeon.
  • * 26 June 2014 , A.A Dowd, AV Club Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler spoof rom-com clichés in They Came Together [http://www.avclub.com/review/paul-rudd-and-amy-poehler-spoof-rom-com-cliches-th-206220]
  • As Norah Jones coos sweet nothings on the soundtrack, the happy couple—played by Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler—canoodle through a Manhattan montage, making pasta for two, swimming through a pile of autumn leaves, and horsing around at a fruit stand.
  • To speak in an admiring fashion, to be enthusiastic about.
  • * 2013 , Nicola Cornick, One Night with the Laird (page 206)
  • They were too busy cooing over the baby and his parents were too busy cooing over each other.
    Derived terms
    * cooer * cooingly

    Etymology 2

    Shortening of cool. Compare foo.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (slang) cool
  • Etymology 3

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • Expression of fright, surprise, approval, etc.
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1960 , author= , title=(Jeeves in the Offing) , section=chapter VII , passage=I stood outside the door for a space, letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would”, as Jeeves tells me cats do in adages, then turned the handle softly, pushed – also softly – and, carrying on into the interior, found myself confronted by a girl in housemaid's costume who put a hand to her throat like somebody in a play and leaped several inches in the direction of the ceiling. “Coo'!” she said, having returned to terra firma and taken aboard a spot of breath. “You gave me a start, sir!” [...] “If you cast an eye on him, you will see that he's asleep now.” “' Coo ! So he is.”}}
  • * 1988 , Sean Kelly, Professional BMX Simulator'' (video game review in ''Your Sinclair , issue 35, November 1988)
  • The last track on each of the three sections is a professional course, where you can customise your bike by changing the tyres and the size of chainwheel. Coo !
  • * 1989 , Competitions'' (in ''Sinclair User , issue 92, November 1989)
  • We want you to come up with a side splitting caption for a picture drawn by the fair hand of those at System 3. If you turn out to be the Funniest "Person", we'll give you a big wopping model of a dinosaur. Coo .
  • * 1990 , Crash readers' awards ceremony'' (in ''Crash , issue 75, April 1990)
  • Mark: 'Coo', I've only had four gallons of extra caffeine coffee today so I'm not my usual talking-to-PR-girlies-for-hours-on-end self. But bear with me a mo while I get myself together (audience waits for an age while he searches through his coat for the golden envelope). Here it is! ' Coo , and the winner is The New Zealand Story.'

    coy

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) coi, earlier .

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (dated) Bashful, shy, retiring.
  • (archaic) Quiet, reserved, modest.
  • Reluctant to give details about something sensitive; notably prudish.
  • Pretending shyness or modesty, especially in an insincere or flirtatious way.
  • Soft, gentle, hesitating.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Enforced hate, / Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.
    Derived terms
    * coyly * coyness

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To caress, pet; to coax, entice.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, / While I thy amiable cheeks do coy .
  • (obsolete) To calm or soothe.
  • To allure; to decoy.
  • * Bishop Rainbow
  • A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets.

    Etymology 2

    Compare decoy.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.
  • References

    * [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=coy&searchmode=none]