Coy vs Coxy - What's the difference?
coy | coxy |
(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
(obsolete) To caress, pet; to coax, entice.
* Shakespeare
(obsolete) To calm or soothe.
To allure; to decoy.
* Bishop Rainbow
(obsolete) cocky
* 1859 "Adam Bede" - George Eliot
*:...couldn't abide a fellow who thought he made himself fine by being coxy to's betters...
As adjectives the difference between coy and coxy
is that coy is bashful, shy, retiring while coxy is cocky.As a verb coy
is to caress, pet; to coax, entice.As a noun coy
is a trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.coy
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) coi, earlier .Adjective
(er)- Enforced hate, / Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.
Derived terms
* coyly * coynessVerb
(en verb)- Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, / While I thy amiable cheeks do coy .
- A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets.