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Coy (koi), a. [OE. coi quiet, still, OF. coi, coit, fr.L. quietus quiet, p. p. of quiescere to rest, quie rest; prob. akin to E. while. See While, and cf. Quiet, Quit, Quite.] 1. Quiet; still. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Shrinking from approach or familiarity; reserved; bashful; shy; modest; -- usually applied to women, sometimes with an implication of coquetry.

Coy, and difficult to win. Cowper.

Coy and furtive graces. W. Irving.

Nor the coy maid, half willings to be pressed, Shall kiss the cup, to pass it to the rest. Goldsmith.

3. Soft; gentle; hesitating.

Enforced hate, Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee. Shak.

Syn. -- Shy; shriking; reserved; modest; bashful; backward; distant.

Coy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coyed (koid); p. pr. & vb. n. Coying.] 1. To allure; to entice; to decoy. [Obs.]

A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets. Bp. Rainbow.

2. To caress with the hand; to stroke.

Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy. Shak.

Coy, v. i. 1. To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity. [Obs.]

Thus to coy it, With one who knows you too! Rowe.

2. To make difficulty; to be unwilling. [Obs.]

If he coyed To hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home. Shak.

Coy"ish, a. Somewhat coy or reserved. Warner.

Coy"ly, adv. In a coy manner; with reserve.

Coy"ness, n. The quality of being coy; feigned or bashful unwillingness to become familiar; reserve.

When the kind nymph would coyness feign, And hides but to be found again. Dryden.

Syn. -- Reserve; shrinking; shyness; backwardness; modesty; bashfulness.

Coy"o*te (k?"?-t? or k?"?t), n. [Spanish Amer., fr. Mexican coyotl.] (Zo÷l.) A carnivorous animal (Canis latrans), allied to the dog, found in the western part of North America; -- called also prairie wolf. Its voice is a snapping bark, followed by a prolonged, shrill howl.

||Coy"pu (koi"p??), n. [Native name.] (Zo÷l.) A South American rodent (Myopotamus coypus), allied to the beaver. It produces a valuable fur called nutria. [Written also coypou.]

Coys"trel (kois"tr&ebreve;l), n. Same as Coistril.

Coz (kŭz), n. A contraction of cousin. Shak.

Coz"en (k?z"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cozened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cozening (-'n-?ng). ] [From cousin, hence, literally, to deceive through pretext of relationship, F. cousiner.] To cheat; to defraud; to beguile; to deceive, usually by small arts, or in a pitiful way.

He had cozened the world by fine phrases. Macaulay.

Children may be cozened into a knowledge of the letters. Locke.