Modest or shy, often in a playful or flirtatious way; reluctant to give details about something. Can suggest either genuine shyness or calculated reserve.
From Old French 'coi' meaning 'calm, quiet,' from Latin 'quietus' (quiet, at rest). The sense evolved from simply being quiet to being deliberately modest or reserved.
Think of a 'COI' fish (koi) hiding shyly under lily pads - coy people hide their true feelings or intentions like shy fish! The word even sounds like the quiet 'coy' sound someone shy might make.
Coyness is coded feminine and often infantilizes women (shy, demure, evasive). The expectation that women perform coyness as sexual modesty reinforces power imbalances; men coded as coy are framed as mysterious, not submissive.
Avoid using to describe women's communication as evasive or sexual performance. Use precise terms like 'reserved,' 'playful,' or 'unclear' instead.
["reserved","playful","mysterious","unclear","vague"]
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