(also curt·sey ) / ˈkɜːtsi; NAmE ˈkɜːrtsi/ noun
( pl. -ies or -eys ) a formal sign made by a woman in a dance or to say hello or goodbye to an important person, by bending her knees with one foot in front of the other
► curtsy verb ( curt·sies , curt·sy·ing , curt·sied , curt·sied ) (also curt·sey ): [ v ]
She curtsied to the Queen.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: variant of courtesy . Both forms were used to denote the expression of respect or courtesy by a gesture, especially in phrases such as do courtesy , make courtesy , and from this arose the current use (late 16th cent.).