Chapter 91

Cov"er (k?v"?r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Covered (-?rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Covering.] [OF. covrir, F. couvrir, fr. L. cooperire; co- + operire to cover; probably fr. ob towards, over + the root appearing in aperire to open. Cf. Aperient, Overt, Curfew.] 1. To overspread the surface of (one thing) with another; as, to cover wood with paint or lacquer; to cover a table with a cloth.

2. To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak.

And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throne. Milton.

All that beauty than doth cover thee. Shak.

3. To invest (one's self with something); to bring upon (one's self); as, he covered himself with glory.

The powers that covered themselves with everlasting infamy by the partition of Poland. Brougham.

4. To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the enemy were covered from our sight by the woods.

A cloud covered the mount. Exod. xxiv. 15.

In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame. Milton.

5. To brood or sit on; to incubate.

While the hen is covering her eggs, the male . . . diverts her with his songs. Addison.

6. To overwhelm; to spread over.

The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen. Ex. xiv. 28.

7. To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat.

His calm and blameless life Does with substantial blessedness abound, And the soft wings of peace cover him round. Cowley.

8. To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit. "Blessed is he whose is covered." Ps. xxxii. 1.

9. To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend, include, or embrace; to account for or solve; to counterbalance; as, a mortgage which fully covers a sum loaned on it; a law which covers all possible cases of a crime; receipts than do not cover expenses.

10. To put the usual covering or headdress on.

Cover thy head . . . ; nay, prithee, be covered. Shak.

11. To copulate with (a female); to serve; as, a horse covers a mare; -- said of the male.

To cover ground or distance, to pass over; as, the rider covered the ground in an hour. -- To cover one's short contracts (Stock Exchange), to buy stock when the market rises, as a dealer who has sold short does in order to protect himself. -- Covering party (Mil.), a detachment of troops sent for the protection of another detachment, as of men working in the trenches. -- To cover into, to transfer to; as, to cover into the treasury.

Syn. -- To shelter; screen; shield; hide; overspread.

Cov"er (k?v"?r), n. 1. Anything which is laid, set, or spread, upon, about, or over, another thing; an envelope; a lid; as, the cover of a book.

2. Anything which veils or conceals; a screen; disguise; a cloak. "Under cover of the night." Macaulay.

A handsome cover for imperfections. Collier.

3. Shelter; protection; as, the troops fought under cover of the batteries; the woods afforded a good cover.

Being compelled to lodge in the field . . . whilst his army was under cover, they might be forced to retire. Clarendon.

4. (Hunting) The woods, underbrush, etc., which shelter and conceal game; covert; as, to beat a cover; to ride to cover.

5. That portion of a slate, tile, or shingle, which is hidden by the overlap of the course above. Knight.

6. (Steam Engine) The lap of a slide valve.

7. [Cf. F. couvert.] A tablecloth, and the other table furniture; esp., the table furniture for the use of one person at a meal; as, covers were laid for fifty guests.

To break cover, to start from a covert or lair; -- said of game. -- Under cover, in an envelope, or within a letter; -- said of a written message.

Letters . . . dispatched under cover to her ladyship. Thackeray.

Cov"er, v. i. To spread a table for a meal; to prepare a banquet. [Obs.] Shak.

Cov"er*chief (chēf), n. [See Kerchief.] A covering for the head. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Cov"er*cle (k?v"?r-k'l), n. [OF. covercle, F. couvercle, fr. L. co÷perculum fr. co÷perire. See cover] A small cover; a lid. [>Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Cov"ered (k?v"?rd), a. Under cover; screened; sheltered; not exposed; hidden.

Covered way (Fort.), a corridor or banquette along the top of the counterscarp and covered by an embankment whose slope forms the glacis. It gives the garrison an open line of communication around the works, and a standing place beyond the ditch. See Illust. of Ravelin.

Cov"er*er (-?r), n. One who, or that which, covers.

Cov"er*ing, n. Anything which covers or conceals, as a roof, a screen, a wrapper, clothing, etc.

Noah removed the covering of the ark. Gen. viii. 13.

They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. Job. xxiv. 7.

A covering over the well's mouth. 2 Sam. xvii. 19.

Cov"er*let (k?v"?r-l?t), n. [F. couvre-lit; couvrir to cover + lit bed, fr. L. lectus bed. See Cover.] The uppermost cover of a bed or of any piece of furniture.

Lay her in lilies and in violets . . . And odored sheets and arras coverlets. Spenser.

Cov"er*lid (-l&ibreve;d), n. A coverlet.

All the coverlid was cloth of gold. Tennyson.

Cov"er-point` (-point!), n. The fielder in the games of cricket and lacrosse who supports "point."

Co*versed" sine (k?-v?rst" s?n`). [Co- (=co- in co- sine) + versed sine.] (Geom.) The versed sine of the complement of an arc or angle. See Illust. of Functions.

Cov"er-shame` (-sh?m`), n. Something used to conceal infamy. [Obs.] Dryden.

Cov"ert (k?v"?rt), a. [OF. covert, F. couvert, p. p. of couvrir. See Cover, v. t.] 1. Covered over; private; hid; secret; disguised.

How covert matters may be best disclosed. Shak.

Whether of open war or covert guile. Milton

2. Sheltered; not open or exposed; retired; protected; as, a covert nook. Wordsworth.

Of either side the green, to plant a covert alley. Bacon.

3. (Law) Under cover, authority or protection; as, a feme covert, a married woman who is considered as being under the protection and control of her husband.

Covert way, (Fort.) See Covered way, under Covered.

Syn. -- Hidden; secret; private; covered; disguised; insidious; concealed. See Hidden.

Cov"ert, n. [OF. See Covert, a.] 1. A place that covers and protects; a shelter; a defense.

A tabernacle . . . for a covert from storm. Is. iv. 6.

The highwayman has darted from his covered by the wayside. Prescott.

2. [Cf. F. couverte.] (Zo÷l.) One of the special feathers covering the bases of the quills of the wings and tail of a bird. See Illust. of Bird.

Cov"ert bar`on (b?r`?n). (Law) Under the protection of a husband; married. Burrill.

Cov"ert*ly, adv. Secretly; in private; insidiously.

Cov"ert*ness (k?v"?rt-n?s), n. Secrecy; privacy. [R.]

Cov"er*ture (k?v"?r-t?r; 135), n. [OF. coverture,F. couverture.] 1. Covering; shelter; defense; hiding.

Protected by walls or other like coverture. Woodward.

Beatrice, who even now Is couched in the woodbine coverture. Shak.

2. (Law) The condition of a woman during marriage, because she is considered under the cover, influence, power, and protection of her husband, and therefore called a feme covert, or femme couverte.

Cov"et (k?v"?t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Covered; p. pr. & vb. n. Coveting.] [OF. coveitier, covoitier, F. convoiter, from a derivative fr. L. cupere to desire; cf. Skr. kup to become excited. Cf. Cupidity.]

1. To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of; -- used in a good sense.

Covet earnestly the best gifts. 1. Cor. xxii. 31.

If it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive. Shak.

2. To long for inordinately or unlawfully; to hanker after (something forbidden).

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. Ex. xx. 17.

Syn. -- To long for; desire; hanker after; crave.

Cov"et, v. i. To have or indulge inordinate desire.

Which [money] while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith. 1 Tim. vi. 10.

Cov"et*a*ble (k?v"?t-?-b'l), a. That may be coveted; desirable.

Cov"et*er (-?r), n. One who covets.

Cov"et*ise (-?s), n. [OF. coveitise, F. convoitise. See Covet, v. t. ] Avarice. [Obs.] Spenser.

Cov"et*ive*ness (-?v-), n. (Phren.) Acquisitiveness.

Cov"et*ous (k?v"?t-?s), a. [OF. coveitos, F. convoiteux. See Covet, v. t.] 1. Very desirous; eager to obtain; -- used in a good sense. [Archaic]

Covetous of wisdom and fair virtue. Shak.

Covetous death bereaved us all, To aggrandize one funeral. Emerson.

2. Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess (esp. money); avaricious; -- in a bad sense.

The covetous person lives as if the world were madealtogether for him, and not he for the world. South.

Syn. -- Avaricious; parsimonious; penurious; misrely; niggardly. See Avaricious.

Cov"et*ous*ly, adv. In a covetous manner.

Cov"et*ous*ness, n. 1. Strong desire. [R.]

When workmen strive to do better than well, They do confound their skill in covetousness. Shak.

2. A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; excessive desire for riches or money; -- in a bad sense.

Covetousness, by a greed of getting more, deprivess itself of the true end of getting. Sprat.

Syn. -- Avarice; cupidity; eagerness.

Cov"ey (k?v"?), n. [OF. cov&?;e, F. couv&?;e, fr. cover, F. couver, to sit or brood on, fr. L. cubare to lie down; cf. E. incubate. See Cubit, and cf. Cove to brood.] 1. A brood or hatch of birds; an old bird with her brood of young; hence, a small flock or number of birds together; -- said of game; as, a covey of partridges. Darwin.

2. A company; a bevy; as, a covey of girls. Addison.

Cov"ey, v. i. To brood; to incubate. [Obs.]

[Tortoises] covey a whole year before they hatch. Holland.

Cov"ey, n. A pantry. [Prov. Eng.] Parker.

Cov"in (k?v"?n), n. [OF. covine, covaine, fr. covenir to agree. See Covenant.] 1. (Law) A collusive agreement between two or more persons to prejudice a third.

2. Deceit; fraud; artifice. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Cov"in*ous (k?v"?n-?s), a. (Law) Deceitful; collusive; fraudulent; dishonest.

Cow (kou), n. [See Cowl a hood.] A chimney cap; a cowl

Cow, n.; pl. Cows (kouz); old pl. Kine (kīn). [OE. cu, cou, AS. cū; akin to D. koe, G. kuh, OHG. kuo, Icel. k&ymacr;r, Dan. & Sw. ko, L. bos ox, cow, Gr. boy^s, Skr. gō. √223. Cf. Beef, Bovine, Bucolic, Butter, Nylghau.]

1. The mature female of bovine animals.

2. The female of certain large mammals, as whales, seals, etc.

Cow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cowed (koud);; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowing.] [Cf. Icel. kuga, Sw. kufva to check, subdue, Dan. kue. Cf. Cuff, v. t.] To depress with fear; to daunt the spirits or courage of; to overawe.

To vanquish a people already cowed. Shak.

THe French king was cowed. J. R. Green.

Cow, n. [Prob. from same root as cow, v. t.] (Mining) A wedge, or brake, to check the motion of a machine or car; a chock. Knight.

Cow"age (kou"&asl;j), n. (Bot.) See Cowhage.

Cow"an (kou"an), n. [Cf. OF. couillon a coward, a cullion.] One who works as a mason without having served a regular apprenticeship. [Scot.] Among Freemasons, it is a cant term for pretender, interloper.

Cow"ard (kou"?rd), a. [OF. couard, coard, coart, n. and adj., F. couard, fr. OF. coe, coue, tail, F. queue (fr. L. coda, a form of cauda tail) + -ard; orig., short-tailed, as an epithet of the hare, or perh., turning tail, like a scared dog. Cf. Cue, Queue, Caudal.] 1. (Her.) Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs; -- said of a lion.

2. Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly.

Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch. Shak.

3. Belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of, base fear or timidity.

He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Shak.

Invading fears repel my coward joy. Proir.

Cow"ard, n. A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon.

A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse. Dryden.

Syn. -- Craven; poltroon; dastard.

Cow"ard, v. t. To make timorous; to frighten. [Obs.]

That which cowardeth a man's heart. Foxe.

Cow"ard*ice (-&ibreve;s), n. [F. couardise, fr. couard. See Coward.] Want of courage to face danger; extreme timidity; pusillanimity; base fear of danger or hurt; lack of spirit.

The cowardice of doing wrong. Milton.

Moderation was despised as cowardice. Macaulay.

Cow"ard*ie (kou"&etilde;rd*&ybreve;), n. [OF. couardie.] Cowardice. [Obs.]

Cow"ard*ish, a. Cowardly. [Obs.] "A base and a cowardish mind." Robynson (More's Utopia).

Cow"ard*ize (-&?;z), v. t. To render cowardly. [Obs.]

God . . . cowardizeth . . . insolent spirits. Bp. Hall.

Cow"ard*li*ness (-l?-n?s), n. Cowardice.

Cow"ard*ly, a. 1. Wanting courage; basely or weakly timid or fearful; pusillanimous; spiritless.

The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle. Shak.

2. Proceeding from fear of danger or other consequences; befitting a coward; dastardly; base; as, cowardly malignity. Macaulay.

The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face. Burke.

Syn. -- Timid; fearful; timorous; dastardly; pusillanimous; recreant; craven; faint-hearted; chicken-hearted; white-livered.

Cow"ard*ly, adv. In the manner of a coward. Spenser.

Cow"ard*ship, n. Cowardice. [Obs.] Shak.

Cow"bane` (kou"bān`), n. (Bot.) A poisonous umbelliferous plant; in England, the Cicuta virosa; in the United States, the Cicuta maculata and the Archemora rigida. See Water hemlock.

Cow"ber`ry (-b&ebreve;r`r&ybreve;), n.; pl. Cowberries (- r&ibreve;z). (Bot.) A species of Vaccinium (V. Vitis-idŠa), which bears acid red berries which are sometimes used in cookery; -- locally called mountain cranberry.

Cow"bird` (-b&etilde;rd`), n. (Zo÷l.) The cow blackbird (Molothrus ater), an American starling. Like the European cuckoo, it builds no nest, but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds; -- so called because frequently associated with cattle.

Cow"blakes` (-blāks`), n. pl. Dried cow dung used as fuel.[Prov. Eng.] Simmonds.

Cow"boy` (-boi`), n. 1. A cattle herder; a drover; specifically, one of an adventurous class of herders and drovers on the plains of the Western and Southwestern United States.

2. One of the marauders who, in the Revolutionary War infested the neutral ground between the American and British lines, and committed depredations on the Americans.

Cow"catch`er (-k?ch`?r), n. A strong inclined frame, usually of wrought-iron bars, in front of a locomotive engine, for catching or throwing off obstructions on a railway, as cattle; the pilot. [U.S.]

Cow"die (kou"d&ybreve;), n. (Bot.) See Kauri.

Cow"er (kou"&etilde;r), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cowered (kou"&etilde;rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cowering.] [Cf. Icel. kera to doze, liequiet, Sw. kura, Dan. kure, G. kauern to cower, W. cwrian.] To stoop by bending the knees; to crouch; to squat; hence, to quail; to sink through fear.

Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire. Dryden.

Like falcons, cowering on the nest. Goldsmith.

Cow"er (kou"&etilde;r), v. t. To cherish with care. [Obs.]

Cow"fish` (-f&ibreve;sh`), n. (Zo÷l.) (a) The grampus. (b) A California dolphin (Tursiops Gillii). (c) A marine plectognath fish (Ostracoin quadricorne, and allied species), having two projections, like horns, in front; -- called also cuckold, coffer fish, trunkfish.

Cow"hage (kou"h&asl;j), n. [Cf. Hind. kaw&amc;nch, koānch.] (Bot.) A leguminous climbing plant of the genus Mucuna, having crooked pods covered with sharp hairs, which stick to the fingers, causing intolerable itching. The spiculŠ are sometimes used in medicine as a mechanical vermifuge. [Written also couhage, cowage, and cowitch.]

Cow"heart`ed (-h?rt`?d), a. Cowardly.

The Lady Powis . . . patted him with her fan, and called him a cowhearted fellow. R. North.

Cow"herd` (-h?rd`), n. [AS. cūhyrde; cū cow + hyrde a herder.] One whose occupation is to tend cows.

Cow"hide` (-h?d`), n. 1. The hide of a cow.

2. Leather made of the hide of a cow.

3. A coarse whip made of untanned leather.

Cow"hide`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cowhided; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowhiding.] To flog with a cowhide.

Cow"ish (kou"&ibreve;sh), a. [From Cow, v. t.] Timorous; fearful; cowardly. [R.] Shak.

Cow"ish, n. (Bot.) An umbelliferous plant (Peucedanum Cous) with edible tuberous roots, found in Oregon. [Written also cous.]

Cow"itch (kou"?ch; 224), n. (Bot.) See Cowhage.

Cowl (koul), n. [AS. cuhle, cugle, cugele; cf. dial. G. kogel, gugel, OF. coule, goule; all fr. LL. cuculla, cucullus, fr. L. cucullus cap, hood; perh. akin to celare to conceal, cella cell. Cf. Cucullate.] 1. A monk's hood; -- usually attached to the gown. The name was also applied to the hood and garment together.

What differ more, you cry, than crown and cowl? Pope.

2. A cowl-shaped cap, commonly turning with the wind, used to improve the draft of a chimney, ventilating shaft, etc.

3. A wire cap for the smokestack of a locomotive.

Cowl, n. [Cf. OF. cuvele, cuvel, dim. of F. cuve tub, vat, fr. L. cupa. See Cup.] A vessel carried on a pole between two persons, for conveyance of water. Johnson.

Cowled (kould), a. Wearing a cowl; hooded; as, a cowled monk. "That cowled churchman." Emerson.

Cow"leech` (kou"l?ch`), n. [2d cow + leech a physician.] One who heals diseases of cows; a cow doctor.

Cow"leech`ing, n. Healing the distemper of cows.

Cow"lick` (-l?k`), n. A tuft of hair turned up or awry (usually over the forehead), as if licked by a cow.

Cow"like` (-l?k`), a. Resembling a cow.

With cowlike udders and with oxlike eyes. Pope.

Cowl"staff` (koul"st?f`), n. [Cowl a vessel + staff.] A staff or pole on which a vessel is supported between two persons. Suckling.

Co`work"er (k?`w?rk"?r), n. One who works with another; a co&?;perator.

Cow" pars`ley (kou` p?rs`l?). (Bot.) An umbelliferous plant of the genus ChŠrophyllum (C. temulum and C. sylvestre).

Cow" pars`nip (-n?p). (Bot.) A coarse umbelliferous weed of the genus Heracleum (H. sphondylium in England, and H. lanatum in America).

Cow"pea` (-pē`), n. The seed of one or more leguminous plants of the genus Dolichos; also, the plant itself. Many varieties are cultivated in the southern part of the United States.

Cow"per's glands` (kou"p?rz gl?ndz`). [After the discoverer, William Cowper, an English surgeon.] (Anat.) Two small glands discharging into the male urethra.

Cow"-pi`lot (kou"pī`lŭt), n. (Zo÷l.) A handsomely banded, coral-reef fish, of Florida and the West Indies (Pomacentrus saxatilis); -- called also mojarra.

Cow"pock` (-p&obreve;k`), n. See Cowpox. Dunglison.

Cow"pox` (-p&obreve;ks`), n. (Med.) A pustular eruptive disease of the cow, which, when communicated to the human system, as by vaccination, protects from the smallpox; vaccinia; -- called also kinepox, cowpock, and kinepock. Dunglison.

Cow"quake` (-kwāk`), n. (Bot.) A genus of plants (Briza); quaking grass.

Cow"rie (-r&ybreve;), n. (Bot.) Same as Kauri.

{ Cow"rie Cow"ry } (kou"r&ybreve;), n.; pl. Cowries (- r&ibreve;z). [Hind. kaurī.] (Zo÷l.) A marine shell of the genus CyprŠa.

&fist; There are numerous species, many of them ornamental. Formerly C. moneta and several other species were largely used as money in Africa and some other countries, and they are still so used to some extent. The value is always trifling, and varies at different places.

Cow"slip` (-sl&ibreve;p`), n. [AS. cūslyppe, cūsloppe, prob. orig., cow's droppings. Cf. Slop, n.] (Bot.) 1. A common flower in England (Primula veris) having yellow blossoms and appearing in early spring. It is often cultivated in the United States.

2. In the United States, the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), appearing in wet places in early spring and often used as a pot herb. It is nearer to a buttercup than to a true cowslip. See Illust. of Marsh marigold.

American cowslip (Bot.), a pretty flower of the West (Dodecatheon Meadia), belonging to the same order (PrimulaceŠ) with the English cowslip. -- French cowslip (Bot.), bear's-ear (Primula Auricula).

Cow"slipped` (-sl&ibreve;pt`), a. Adorned with cowslips. "Cowslipped lawns." Keats.

Cow's" lung"wort` (kouz" l?ng"w?rt`). Mullein.

Cow" tree` (kou" tr?`). [Cf. SP. palo de vaca.] (Bot.) A tree (Galactodendron utile or Brosimum Galactodendron) of South America, which yields, on incision, a nourishing fluid, resembling milk.

Cow"weed" (-wEd`),, n. (Bot.) Same as Cow parsley.

Cow"wheat` (-hw?t`), n. (Bot.) A weed of the genus Melampyrum, with black seeds, found on European wheatfields.

Cox (k?ks), n. [OE. cokes. Cf. Coax.] A coxcomb; a simpleton; a gull. [Obs.]

Go; you're a brainless cox, a toy, a fop. Beau. & Fl.

||Cox"a (k?ks"?), n. [L., the hip.] (Zo÷l.) The first joint of the leg of an insect or crustacean.

{ ||Cox*al"gi*a (-?l"j?-?), Cox"al`gy (k?ks"?l`j?), } n. [NL. coxalgia, fr. L. coxa hip. + Gr. &?;&?;&?; pain: cf. F. coxalgie.] (Med.) Pain in the hip.

Cox"comb` (k?ks"k?m`), n. [A corrupted spelling of cock's comb.] 1. (a) A strip of red cloth notched like the comb of a cock, which licensed jesters formerly wore in their caps. (b) The cap itself.

2. The top of the head, or the head itself.

We will belabor you a little better, And beat a little more care into your coxcombs. Beau & Fl.

3. A vain, showy fellow; a conceited, silly man, fond of display; a superficial pretender to knowledge or accomplishments; a fop.

Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy Of powdered coxcombs at her levee. Goldsmith.

Some are bewildered in the maze of schools, And some made coxcombs, nature meant but fools. Pope.

4. (Bot.) A name given to several plants of different genera, but particularly to Celosia cristata, or garden cockscomb. Same as Cockscomb.

Cox*comb"ic*al (k?ks-k?m"?-kal), a. Befitting or indicating a coxcomb; like a coxcomb; foppish; conceited. -- Cox*comb"ic*al*ly, adv.

Studded all over in coxcombical fashion with little brass nails. W. Irving.

Cox"comb"ly (k?ks"k?m`l?), a. like a coxcomb. [Obs.] "You coxcombly ass, you!" Beau. & Fl.

Cox"comb`ry (-r?), n. The manners of a coxcomb; foppishness.

Cox*com"ic*al (k?ks-k?m"?-kal), a. Coxcombical. [R.]

Cox*com"ic*al*ly, adv. Conceitedly. [R.]

Cox"swain` (k?k"sw?n, Colloq. k?k"s'n), n. See Cockswain.

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.