The quality of being evasive, unwilling to commit to a clear answer, or cautiously secretive.
From 'cagey' (evasive, wary) + '-ness' (quality or state of). 'Cagey' itself likely derives from circus slang, possibly related to being trapped or cornered like an animal in a cage.
Politicians and poker players have turned 'cageyness' into an art form—staying evasive in negotiations is sometimes worth more than honesty, which is probably why the word has stuck around since the 1890s.
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