/ ˈkɔːtiə(r); NAmE ˈkɔːrt-/ noun
(especially in the past) a person who is part of the court of a king or queen
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : via Anglo-Norman French from Old French cortoyer be present at court, from cort , from Latin cohors , cohort- yard or retinue. The verb is influenced by Old Italian corteare , Old French courtoyer .