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Retiring vs Coy - What's the difference?

retiring | coy |

As adjectives the difference between retiring and coy

is that retiring is shy, introverted, liking privacy while coy is (dated) bashful, shy, retiring.

As verbs the difference between retiring and coy

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

As nouns the difference between retiring and coy

is that retiring is retirement while coy is a trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.

retiring

English

Adjective

(head)
  • Shy, introverted, liking privacy.
    • I don't really know him well, since he's so shy and retiring .
  • About to retire.
    • Today is the party for our retiring co-workers.

    Verb

    (head)

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • retirement
  • * Francis Bacon
    • One day of those his retirings (SIC), giving out that he was sick, his father Antigonus came on the sudden to visit him, and met a fair dainty youth coming out of his chamber.

    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]