Obs. exc. dial. Also 6–7 quoy(e. [a. Du. kooi, formerly côye, in same sense, a parallel form to MDu. couwe = MHG. kouwe, köuwe:—WGer. cawia, cauwia, a. L. cavea hollow, enclosure, CAGE.]
1. A place constructed for entrapping ducks or other wild-fowl; a DECOY.
1621. [see COY-DUCK].
1634–5. Brereton, Trav. (1844), 3. A convenient place in the remotest part of the marsh for a coy. Ibid., 172. He advised me … to bring a spring into my coy.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, II. (1692), 133 (D.). Until the great Mallard be catch’t in the Coy.
a. 1825. in Forby, Voc. E. Anglia.
1877. in Gloss. Holderness, 46.
1877. E. Peacock, N. W. Linc. Gloss., Coy, a decoy for taking wildfowl.
2. A lobster-trap. dial.
1733. in W. Rye, Cromer (1889), 72. In 1733 Richard Ellis … granted licences to erect ‘lobster coys’ off Cromer.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Coy … 2. A coop for lobsters.
3. = COY-DUCK. Also fig.
1629. Gaule, Holy Madn., 381. His Mony flies out (like Stales, or Quoyes) to fetch in more.
1659. Lady Alimony, III. vii. I have most fortunately made their pages our coyes.
4. attrib. and Comb., as coy-bird, -dog, -house, -man, -pool. Also COY-DUCK.
1634–5. Brereton, Trav. (1844), 44. John my coyman reported it. Ibid., 171. (Bridgewater) About half a mile hence is Orion’s coy, which is placed near a highway. This is a large spacious coy-pool. There are five pipes in this coy as in mine. Ibid., 172. None so little, nor seeming so nimble as my coy-dogs. Ibid. The coy-house is larger than mine.
1639. Saltmarshe, Pract. Policie, 54. They will invite a returne of their like, and as quoy favours bring home more of their kinde to you.
1657. M. Lawrence, Use & Practice of Faith, 535. The Devil hath his Coy-birds … to draw others into his Net.
