curtsy
[kurt-see]
- a respectful bow made by women and girls, consisting of bending the knees and lowering the body.
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- to make a curtsy.
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Origin of curtsy
First recorded in 1520–30; variant of courtesy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for curtsies
Historical Examples
The poor creature, I warrant, was as full of curtsies, as if I had been her godmother.
The Comedies of William CongreveWilliam Congreve
Come along all of you, and make your best bows and curtsies.
She curtsies with a languishing air, as if to say, 'You are come at last.
The History of Henry Esmond, Esq.W. M. Thackeray
Chord from the harmonium—the Child advances, and curtsies with much aplomb.
Mr. Punch at the SeasideVarious
She curtsies to Graeme and with a warning look at Granahan goes into room.
The Turn of the RoadRutherford Mayne
curtsy
curtsey
- a formal gesture of greeting and respect made by women in which the knees are bent, the head slightly bowed, and the skirt held outwards
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- (intr) to make a curtsy
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Word Origin
C16: variant of courtesy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for curtsies
curtsy
v.
1550s, from curtsy (n.). Related: Curtsied; curtsying.
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curtsy
n.
1540s, "expression of respect," a variant of courtesy (q.v.). Specific meaning "a bending the knee and lowering the body as a gesture of respect" is from 1570s. Originally not exclusively feminine.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper