Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Curtas(s)y, -aisy, n. Also: -asey. [ME. curtasy, -asie (14th c.), -aysé, etc., OF. curtesie. Cf. Courtasy.]

1. Courtesy; courteous behaviour; a courteous act. 1375 Barb. xvi. 289.
This wes a full gret curtasy c1420 Wynt. i. 47.
Gywe youre curtasy Forbere me in this juperty Ib. v. 863; etc.
He wes of sa gret curtasy 1456 Hay I. 39/20.
Scho did him grete gude, and grete curtaisy Ib. II. 161/8.
I left thé thy lyf for thy curtasy thou did me c1475 Wall. ix. 313.
Quhat nedis mor off curtassy to tell a1500 Seven S. 1921.
Gud schir, for curtassy, Be curyale to my gay lady 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 96.
Quha mycht gaynsay … That euer had ony curtasy in thar mynd Ib. viii. 98.
To schaw ws … frendschip and curtasy

2. The curtasy of Scotland: see Courtasy 3. 1493 Reg. Privy S. I. 4/2.
Alexander erle of Huntle, quhilk brukit the sammyn landis be the curtasy of Scotland eftir the deces of … his spous 1494 Acta Aud. 188/2.
The landis of Barras pertenit to the said sir Iohne be the curtassy of Scotland 1535 Reg. Privy S. II. 227/1.
Thomas Smyth, … quhilk broukit the sammyn [lands] for his liftyme be resoun of the curtasy of Scotland 1565 Edinb. B. Deeds MS. 184 b.
The landis … pertening to him be ressoun of the curtasey of Scotland