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Coy vs Coquette - What's the difference?

coy | coquette |

As verbs the difference between coy and coquette

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

As nouns the difference between coy and coquette

is that coy is a trap from which waterfowl may be hunted while coquette is a woman who flirts or plays with men's affections.

As an adjective coy

is (dated) bashful, shy, retiring.

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]

    coquette

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A woman who flirts or plays with men's affections.

    • Related terms

    * coquetry * coquettish * coquettishly * coquettishness

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • * 1875 , Herbert Eastwick Compton, Semi-tropical trifles
    • Nobber has no small opinion of himself: he considers himself the Adonis of the Pondaati eleven, and he contemplates society as though it were Venus, and it was his mission to posturize before it, and coquette and toy with it.
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