Main Entry:

ca·gey

Variant(s):

also ca·gy \ˈkā-jē\

Function:

adjective

Inflected Form(s):

ca·gi·er; ca·gi·est

Etymology:

origin unknown

Date:

circa 1893

1: hesitant about committing oneself <officials are cagey about giving out details>2 a: wary of being trapped or deceived : shrewd <a cagey consumer> b: marked by cleverness <a cagey reply>

— ca·gi·ly \-jə-lē\ adverb

— ca·gi·ness also ca·gey·ness \-jē-nəs\ noun