a. Somewhat coy.
c. 1530. H. Rhodes, Bk. Nurture, 433, in Babees Bk., 94. To thy fellow be not coyish.
1567. Drant, trans. Horace’s Sat., II. iii. (R.). This coyishe paramour.
1592. Warner, Alb. Eng., VIII. xlii. (1612), 202. As yet so coyish to be kist.
Hence † Coyishness.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Esquividad, statelines, coyishnes.
