curtsy
UK[ˈkɜːtsi]US[ˈkɜːrtsi]
n
a formal sign of respect made by women and girls, consisting of bending the knees with one foot in front of the other.
v
perform a curtsy.
Etymology
the word 'curtsy' is an alteration of the word 'courtesy', which entered english from old french 'cortesie', meaning courtly manners or politeness. the specific gesture of the curtsy developed as a formal, feminine expression of this courtesy and deference, particularly within a courtly or formal social context. the phonetic and spelling shift from 'courtesy' to 'curtsy' occurred in the early 16th century, reflecting the word's specialized application to the physical act of bowing. thus, the term's journey captures the evolution from a broad concept of polite behavior to a specific, ritualized bodily performance of respect.
Analysis
this word is a loanword and its spelling has been anglicized from its source. it is not productively formed from separable english morphemes.
Examples
the young girl gave a graceful curtsy to the queen.
she curtsied quickly before leaving the stage.
a deep curtsy was expected when presented at court.