Boy vs. Coy — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Boy and Coy
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Compare with Definitions
Boy
A boy is a young male human. The term is usually used for a child or an adolescent.
Coy
Affectedly and often flirtatiously shy or modest
"I pictured myself as some sylvan deity, and she a coy wood nymph of whom I was in pursuit" (Washington Irving).
Boy
A male child.
Coy
Characterized by or suggesting such shyness or modesty
"How absurd I must have looked standing there before him ... a coy little simper on my foolish young face" (Jane Avrich).
Boy
A son
His youngest boy.
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Coy
Unwilling to make a commitment or divulge information
"As a child, when I asked my mother her age she was coy and evasive" (Lynne Sharon Schwartz).
Boy
Often Offensive A man, especially a young man.
Coy
Tending to avoid people and social situations; reserved
"The children were staring up at him, too coy to question him and too curious not to stare" (Edwidge Danticat).
Boy
(Informal) A man socializing in a group of men
A night out with the boys.
Coy
(dated) Bashful, shy, retiring.
Boy
(Offensive) A male servant or employee.
Coy
(archaic) Quiet, reserved, modest.
Boy
Used to express mild astonishment, elation, or disgust
Oh boy—what a surprise!.
Coy
Reluctant to give details about something sensitive; notably prudish.
Boy
A young male.
Kate is dating a boy named Jim.
Coy
Pretending shyness or modesty, especially in an insincere or flirtatious way.
Boy
(particularly) A male child or adolescent, as distinguished from infants or adults.
Coy
Soft, gentle, hesitating.
Boy
(diminutive) A son of any age.
Coy
To caress, pet; to coax, entice.
Boy
A male of any age, particularly one rather younger than the speaker.
Coy
To calm or soothe.
Boy
(obsolete) A male of low station, (especially as pejorative) a worthless male, a wretch; a mean and dishonest male, a knave.
Coy
To allure; to decoy.
Boy
A male servant, slave, assistant, or employee, particularly:
Coy
A trap from which waterfowl may be hunted.
Boy
A younger such worker.
Coy
(military) A company
Boy
A non-white male servant regardless of age, particularly as a form of address.
Coy
Quiet; still.
Boy
(obsolete) A male camp follower.
Coy
Shrinking from approach or familiarity; reserved; bashful; shy; modest; - usually applied to women, sometimes with an implication of coquetry.
Coy, and difficult to win.
Coy and furtive graces.
Nor the coy maid, half willings to be pressed,Shall kiss the cup, to pass it to the rest.
Boy
Any non-white male, regardless of age.
Coy
Soft; gentle; hesitating.
Enforced hate,Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.
Boy
A male animal, especially, in affectionate address, a male dog.
C'mere, boy! Good boy! Who's a good boy?
Are you getting a boy cat or a girl cat?
Coy
To allure; to entice; to decoy.
A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets.
Boy
A former low rank of various armed services; a holder of this rank.
Coy
To caress with the hand; to stroke.
Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed,While I thy amiable cheeks do coy.
Boy
Heroin.
Coy
To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity.
Thus to coy it,With one who knows you too!
Boy
A male (tree, gene, etc).
Coy
To make difficulty; to be unwilling.
If he coyedTo hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home.
Boy
Exclamation of surprise, pleasure or longing.
Boy, that was close!
Boy, that tastes good!
Boy, I wish I could go to Canada!
Coy
Affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
Boy
(transitive) To act as a boy in allusion to the former practice of boys acting women's parts on the stage.
Coy
Showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement;
A politician coy about his intentions
Boy
A male child, from birth to the age of puberty; a lad; hence, a son.
My only boy fell by the side of great Dundee.
Coy
Modestly or warily rejecting approaches or overtures;
Like a wild young colt, very inquisitive but very coy and not to be easily cajoled
Boy
In various countries, a male servant, laborer, or slave of a native or inferior race; also, any man of such a race; - considered derogatory by those so called, and now seldom used.
He reverted again and again to the labor difficulty, and spoke of importing boys from Capetown.
Boy
To act as a boy; - in allusion to the former practice of boys acting women's parts on the stage.
I shall seeSome squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness.
Boy
A youthful male person;
The baby was a boy
She made the boy brush his teeth every night
Most soldiers are only boys in uniform
Boy
A friendly informal reference to a grown man;
He likes to play golf with the boys
Boy
A male human offspring;
Their son became a famous judge
His boy is taller than he is
Boy
(ethnic slur) offensive term for Black man;
Get out of my way, boy
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