courtesan

American  

[kawr-tuh-zuhn, kur-] / ˈkɔr tə zən, ˈkɜr- /

Sometimes courtezan

noun

1. (especially in historical use) a mistress, paramour, or prostitute, especially one associating with noblemen or men of wealth.

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courtesan British  

/ ˌkɔːtɪˈzæn /

noun

1. (esp formerly) a prostitute, or the mistress of a man of rank

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Etymology

Origin of courtesan

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana, literally, “woman of the court,” derivative of corte court

Explanation

From the Renaissance on, European kings and noblemen often kept a courtesan, that is, a woman with whom they had a relationship but were not married to. The courtesan got her name quite literally from the royal court where she lived. In fact, the term to court, as in to woo someone romantically, comes from the origin. A similar term is concubine, though it has a slightly different meaning. Concubines date from earlier times, to the Biblical era and beyond, and refer to women who were generally kept far more closeted socially, unlike courtesans, who often had great independence and freedom. Don't confuse your different types of high class girlfriends!

Example Sentences

Rekhabai's tumultuous life is now the subject of a book, The Last Courtesan - Writing My Mother's Memoir, authored by her son Manish Gaekwad.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2023

By a strange chance, a week after seeing A Mad World I was at the University of York to watch student actors performing John Marston's The Dutch Courtesan.

From The Guardian • Jul. 2, 2013

Her second novel, “The Courtesan and the Samurai,” was published in Britain in March.

From New York Times • Jun. 11, 2010

Parisian Courtesan Returns, Bearing Feminist Credentials Ballet, because it is centrally concerned with the differences between man and woman, frequently addresses the same issues as feminism, though seldom with the same goals.

From New York Times • May 26, 2010

A more brilliant and amusing play than "The Dutch Courtesan," better composed, better constructed, and better written, it would be difficult to discover among the best comic and romantic works of its incomparable period.

From The Age of Shakespeare by Swinburne, Algernon Charles