Where does “coy” come from?
coy (Middle English) comes from Old French coi, from Old French quei, from Latin quiētus, from Latin quiēscō, from Latin quiēs, from Proto-Italic kʷiētis, from Proto-Indo-European kʷyéh₁tis, from Proto-Indo-European kʷyeh₁- — to rest; rest, peace.
Ancestry of “coy”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | coi | — |
| 2 | Old French | quei | quiet, still |
| 3 | Latin | quiētus | at rest/nap, quiet, keeping quiet, quietude, quietness |
| 4 | Latin | quiēscō | to rest, sleep, repose |
| 5 | Latin | quiēs | the rest of sleep, repose |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | kʷiētis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷyéh₁tis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷyeh₁- | to rest; rest, peace |