A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Coy, Koy, a. Also: coye, quoy(e. [ME. coy, coie, koie, koy, OF. coi.] Ouiet. Freq. in phr. to hald (or keip) … coy.(1) c1460 Thewis Gud Wemen 19.
A woman suld ay … [be] Weill of hir smyling, simpyll and coy 1513 Doug. x. ii. 5.
Quhar ayr I was koy 1535 Stewart 41144.
He maid thaim all to be as clois and quoy 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 75 (B).
He bure ane club maid mony ane carle coy c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 57.
Behind the bus … I liggit law, Buir me richt coy Ib. iv. 163.
The court was coy, commandit was silence a1585 Maitl. Q. lxviii. 83.
O quhat plesour is thair & ioy … To sie the tyme sa calme & coy(2) a1500 Prestis of Peblis 16.
For company thai kepit thaim so coy c1500-c1512 Dunb. xliii. 11.
Thay can convoy Ane mater fynaly, Richt myld and moy, And keip it coy 1513 Doug. ii. x. 26.
Hir self scho hyd tharfor, and held ful koy [Sm. quoye] 1535 Stewart 36642.
Rycht closlie than tha held thame all full quoy 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 135.
Perturband spreitis causyng to hauld coye 1540 Id. Sat. 14.
Tak tent to me, my freinds, and hald ȝow coy Ib. 1474. a1568 Scott iii. 54.
Richswa forbeir a manis wyfe for blame, And hald ȝow koy, in quiet quhill ȝe get hir
