COURTESAN


Meaning of COURTESAN in English

n.

Pronunciation: ' ko ̇ r-t ə -z ə n, - ˌ zan also ' k ə r-, - ˌ zän; esp Brit ˌ ko ̇ r-t ə - ' zan

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle French courtisane, from northern Italian dialect form of Italian cortigiana woman courtier, feminine of cortigiano courtier, from corte court, from Latin cohort-, cohors

Date: 1533

: a prostitute with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.