courtesan
or cour·te·zan
[kawr-tuh-zuh n, kohr-, kur-]
- a prostitute or paramour, especially one associating with noblemen or men of wealth.
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Origin of courtesan
1540–50; < Middle French courtisane < Italian cortigiana, literally, woman of the court, derivative of corte court
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for courtesan
Contemporary Examples
She killed herself in 1925 and she also may have been a courtesan, I discovered a few years ago.
The look was inspired by Dutch exotic dancer, courtesan, and the World War I spy Mata Hari.
The Girl Who Loved Camellias by Julie Kavanagh The courtesan who seduced Paris—and inspired Dumas and La Traviata.
“I think what she is doing is an abuse of the word ‘courtesan,’” the escort says.
Three customers have called her for appointments and, when she arrived, asked her if she was the Courtesan.
Historical Examples
From the first to the last moment of her reign, she combined the courtesan with the assassin.
RidgewayScian Dubh
For Dawson was at this time the Mecca of the gambler and the courtesan.
The Trail of '98Robert W. Service
First I hated you, when I dreamed you to be but a courtesan traitress.
The Lion's BroodDuffield Osborne
And the monk touched with his lips the forehead of the courtesan.
ThaisAnatole France
In the diffident manner was nothing of the art of the courtesan.
Sister CarrieTheodore Dreiser
courtesan
courtezan
- (esp formerly) a prostitute, or the mistress of a man of rank
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Word Origin
C16: from Old French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana female courtier, from cortigiano courtier, from corte court
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for courtesan
n.
early 15c., from Middle French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana "prostitute," literally "woman of the court," fem. of cortigiano "one attached to a court," from corte "court," from Latin cortem (see court (n.)).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper