curtsy
noun /ˈkɜːtsi/
/ˈkɜːrtsi/
(also curtsey)
(plural curtsies, curtseys)
- a formal movement 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 otherWord Originearly 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.).