Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Courtasy, -asie, n. Also: courtassy, -assie, kowrtasie. [Variant of Curtasy.]

1. Courteous behaviour. 1456 Hay I. 140/5.
Gif the King … of his courtasy, his gentris and his kyndenes has sent [etc.] c1450-2 Howlat 92.
With sic courtassy as he couth, on kneis he fell a1500 Rauf C. 125.
Gif thow of courtasie couth, thow hes forȝet it clene Ib. 423. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8610.
All men him lude for his greit courtasie c1590 J. Stewart 170/17.
Glansing cleir columbie … Presents ane royall courtassie perfyt

2. A courteous act; a reward or requital; a formal reception or entertainment. 1456 Hay I. 159/13.
Gif … he will have sum courtasy for his saufing and keping, and costis making Ib. II. 106/32.
Do thame sum courtasy that otheris may tak ensample 1644–5 Misc. Spald. C. V. 164.
For the courtasie givin in the counsalhous to my Lord Aboyne, for wyne, confectiones, and vther pertinentis 1646 Stirlings of Keir 484.
Which shall be takin as ane kowrtasie doon to … Your asoored friend

3. The courtasy of Scotland, ‘a liferent conferred by the law, on the surviving husband, of all the heritage in which his deceased wife died infeft, as heir to her predecessors’ (Bell). 1490 Acta Conc. 162/1.
Lucas the Brois sall broik … the saidis lands … be the law of the courtassy of Scotlande for all the dais of his lif 1494 Acta Aud. 188/2.
Sir Johnne clamit the tother v li. worth of the said landis … to pertene to him be the courtassy of Scotland