courtˈship noun

1. The act or process of wooing a woman in order to persuade her to become one's wife
2. The period of time over which this is carried out
3. Courtly behaviour

court-barˈon noun (historical)

The assembly of freehold tenants of a manor under a lord

court card see coat-card under coat¹

court circular noun

A daily report in certain newspapers of the appointments, activities, etc of the sovereign and/or other members of a royal family

courtˈcraft noun

The courtier's art, intrigue

court cupboard noun (historical)

A movable cupboard or sideboard on which plate was displayed

courtˈ-day noun

A day on which a judicial court sits

court dress noun

The special formal costume worn on state or ceremonious occasions

courtˈ-dresser noun (obsolete)

A flatterer

court fool noun

A fool or jester, formerly kept at court for amusement

court guide noun (historical)

A guide to, or a directory of, the names and residences of the nobility in a town

court hand noun

A modification of the Norman handwriting, as distinguished from the modern or Italian handwriting, in use in the English lawcourts from the 16c to the reign of George II

courtˈhouse noun

A building where the lawcourts are held

courtˈ-leet noun (historical)

A court of record held in a manor before the lord or his steward

courtly love noun

A conception and tradition of love, originating in late medieval European literature, in which the knight sublimates his love for his lady in submission, service and devotion

court martial noun (pl courts martial or (informal) court marˈtials)

A court held by officers of the army, navy or air force for the trial of offences against service laws (one improvised in time of war round an upturned drum for summary judgement was a drumhead court martial)

court-marˈtial transitive verb (court-marˈtialling; court-marˈtialled)

To try before a court martial

court order noun

A direction or command of a justiciary court

court plaster noun

Sticking-plaster made of silk, originally applied as patches on the face by ladies at court

courtˈ-roll noun

The record of land holdings, etc of a manorial court

courtˈroom noun

A room in a courthouse in which lawsuits and criminal cases are heard

court shoe noun

A low-cut ladies' shoe without straps or laces

court sword noun

A light sword worn as part of court dress

court tennis noun

The game of real tennis, distinguished from lawn tennis

courtˈyard noun

A court or enclosed ground attached to a building, usu a large house

court holy water (obsolete)

1. Empty compliments
2. Flattery

Court of Appeal, Arches, Exchequer, etc see under appeal, arch¹, exchequer, etc.

court of first instance

A lawcourt in which proceedings are first heard

go (or take someone) to court

To institute legal proceedings against someone

hold court

To preside over admiring followers, etc

laugh someone out of court see under laugh

out of court

1. Without a trial in a lawcourt
2. Without claim to be considered

pay court to

To woo or flatter

put (or rule) out of court

1. To prevent a case from being heard
2. To dismiss emphatically (figurative)

the ball's in your court see under ball¹