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Ploy vs Coy - What's the difference?

ploy | coy |

As nouns the difference between ploy and coy

is that ploy is a tactic, strategy, or gimmick while coy is a trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.

As verbs the difference between ploy and coy

is that ploy is to form a column from a line of troops on some designated subdivision while coy is to caress, pet; to coax, entice.

As an adjective coy is

bashful, shy, retiring.

ploy

English

Etymology 1

Noun

(en noun)
  • A tactic, strategy, or gimmick.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=70, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Engineers of a different kind , passage=Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers.
  • (UK, Scotland, dialect) Sport; frolic.

    • Etymology 2

    Probably abbreviated from deploy.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (military) To form a column from a line of troops on some designated subdivision.
    • (Wilhelm)
    Antonyms
    * deploy (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * ----

    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]