I. noun
or curt·sey ˈkərtsē, -ə̄t-, -əit-, -si
( plural curtsies or curtseys )
Etymology: alteration of courtesy
: an act of civility, respect, or reverence made mainly by women and consisting of a slight dropping of the body with bending of the knees
curtsies from all the … ladies of the train — Sir Walter Scott
: a gesture of courteous recognition
II. verb
or curtsey “
( curtsied or curtseyed ; curtsied or curtseyed ; curtsying or curtseying ; curtsies or curtseys )
intransitive verb
: to make a curtsy — often used with to
curtsying to the queen
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to make a curtsy to
2. archaic : to express by curtsying