Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒurtisān n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cǒurtisān n. Also courtesan, curtezein. |
| Etymology | OF courtisien (from It. cortigiano). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A member of the papal Curia.
Associated quotations
- (1426) Paston2.27 : Maister Robert Sutton, a courtezane of the Court of Rome.
- (1434) Proc.Privy C.4.282 : To al þe curtezeins Englysh in þe courte of Rome.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)165 : Þe cardinales and courtisanes uisit þis place deuly.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)216 : Whan thei come thidir, with fraude of the courtesanes, whech were comensalis with the Pope, thei were illuded.