curtsy

or curt·sey

[ kurt-see ]

noun

, plural curt·sies.

1. a respectful bow made by women and girls, consisting of bending the knees and lowering the body.

verb (used without object)

, curt·sied, curt·sy·ing.

1. to make a curtsy.

curtsy

/ ˈkɜːtsɪ /

noun

1. 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

verb

1. intr to make a curtsy

Word History and Origins

Origin of curtsy¹

First recorded in 1520–30; variant of courtesy

Word History and Origins

Origin of curtsy¹

C16: variant of courtesy

Example Sentences

One employee weeps with glee upon meeting him, and others curtsy when he walks into their office.

From New York Times

She spun around when she reached the prince, curtsied to Jack, then sat down and stuck out her tongue.

From Literature

We dropped three numb little curtsies, and turned to go.

From Literature

I didn’t know what to do, so I curtsied!”

From BBC

Standing in a shadowy archway on a bridge leading into Broughton Castle in Oxfordshire, England, sheep nibbling the grass below, Julianne Moore curtsied deeply, lowering her eyes before a splendidly gowned woman.

From New York Times