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The Collaborative International Dictionary
curtsey

curtsey \curtsey\, curtsy \curtsy\v. i. to perform a curtsy.

curtsey

curtsey \curt"sey\, curtsy \curt"sy\(k[^u]rt"s[y^]), n. An act of civility, respect, or reverence, made by women, consisting of a slight depression or dropping of the body, with bending of the knees. Same as 2nd Courtesy, n..

Syn: curtsy; courtesy.

curtsey

Courtesy \Courte"sy\ (k[^u]rt"s[y^]), n. [See the preceding word.] An act of civility, respect, or reverence, made by women, consisting of a slight depression or dropping of the body, with bending of the knees. [Written also curtsy and curtsey.]

The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony proceeds as usual.
--Golgsmith.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
curtsey

alternative spelling of curtsy.\n

Wiktionary
curtsey

alt. A small bow, generally performed by a woman or a girl, where she crosses one calf of her leg behind the other and briefly bends her knees and lowers her body in deference. n. A small bow, generally performed by a woman or a girl, where she crosses one calf of her leg behind the other and briefly bends her knees and lowers her body in deference. vb. To make a curtsey.

WordNet
curtsey
  1. n. bending at the knees; a gesture of respect made by women [syn: curtsy]

  2. v. a gesture of respectful greeting, for women [syn: curtsy]

Wikipedia
Curtsey

A curtsey (also spelled curtsy or even incorrectly courtsey) is a traditional gesture of greeting, in which a girl or woman bends her knees while bowing her head. It is the female equivalent of male bowing in Western cultures. Miss Manners characterizes its knee bend as deriving from a "traditional gesture of an inferior to a superior." The word "curtsy" is a phonological change from "courtesy" known in linguistics as syncope.

According to Desmond Morris, the motions involved in the curtsey and the bow were similar until the 17th century, and the gender differentiation between the actions developed afterwards. The earlier, combined version is still performed by Restoration comedy actors.

In more formal variants of the curtsey, the girl/woman bends the knees outward (rather than straight ahead), often sweeping one foot behind her. She may also use her hands to hold her skirt out from her body. In the Victorian era, when women wore floor-length, hooped skirts, they curtsied using the pliƩ movement borrowed from second-position in classical ballet in which the knees are bent while the back is held straight. Both feet and knees point out so the torso lowers straight down. This way, the lady lowers herself evenly, not to one side.

Traditionally, women and girls curtsey for those of senior social rank just as men and boys bow. Today this practice has become less common. In many European cultures it is traditional for women to curtsey in front of royalty. It may then be referred to as a court curtsey and is often especially deep and elaborate. Further, some female domestic workers curtsey for their employers.

Female dancers often curtsey at the end of a performance to show gratitude or acknowledge any applause from the audience. At the end of a ballet class, students will also curtsey or bow to the teacher and the pianist to show gratitude. According to Victorian dance etiquette, a woman curtseys before beginning a dance. Female Scottish highland dancers performing the national dances and the Irish Jig also curtsey (at both the beginning and end for the national dances and at the end for the Irish Jig). Some female ballroom dancers will curtsey to their partners before beginning the Viennese Waltz.

It is customary for female figure skaters to curtsey at the end of their programs at figure skating competitions or shows.

It is also acceptable in some cultures for the female to bow if wearing trousers.

During her coronation ceremony Queen Elizabeth II performed a curtsey, or rather a half-curtsey, half-neck bow to King Edward's Chair.

The "Texas Dip" is an extreme curtsey performed by a Texan debutante. The young woman slowly lowers her forehead to the floor by crossing her ankles, then bending her knees and sinking. The escort's hand is held during the dip. When the debutante's head nears the floor, she turns her head sideways, averting the risk of soiling her dress with lipstick.

Usage examples of "curtsey".

Also, I get to order people around that even you would curtsey to, and kick their arses if they get cranky.

He watched as she picked up the hem of an imaginary balldress and swept him an elaborate formal court curtsey that ended in her gracefully sweeping almost to the floor.

Balloon-woman, and bobbed a funny little curtsey that nearly sent Bets into fits of laughter.

That is what we met suddenly, at the bend of a muddy Dorsetshire lane, and the roan mare stared and obviously thought of a curtsey.

She bobbed a cheeky curtsey to me, then took my hand and led me without a word to the cool, dark stillroom where the barrels of beer were stacked and there reached up and placed a soft kiss upon my mouth.

The old woman would not give her hand, but made an old-fashioned curtsey, which Adela felt to be half ironical.

The Lady Elizabeth was curtseying before her aunt and uncle, and when she rose Cressida saw immediately what had caused that sudden hush to fall upon the packed company.

Mair curtseyed deeply, lowering her gaze in a gesture that might have been humble, if not for the carnal glint in her eyes.

Say what you like about the kind of life I was used to, it was a life without masters: I had never curtseyed before to anyone.

Fairfax folded up her knitting: I took my portfolio: we curtseyed to him, received a frigid bow in return, and so withdrew.

I rose and curtseyed to them: one or two bent their heads in return, the others only stared at me.

She comes, blinking at the gentlemen, curtseying at my uncle, a look of terror on her face.

The stiff-bodiced dress is not made for curtseying in, however: the dip is a jagged one, the fringes upon her skirt tumble together and seem to shake.

The handle turned, the door unclosed, and passing through and curtseying low, I looked up at -- a black pillar!

After, giving hurried directions to Rundles, the landlord of the Royal Sovereign, Fleetwood took the reins, and all three gentlemen touched hats to the curtseying figure of Mrs.