Relationships (Outline) |
---|
A courtesan is a prostitute with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele.[1] Historically, the term referred to a courtier, a person who attended the court of a monarch or other powerful person.[2]
v. courtesan, -zan, 1, Obs., "One attached to the court of a prince"; courtesan, -zan, 2, "A court-mistress", Etymon "a. F. courtisane, ad. It. cortigiana, in Florio cortegiana "a curtezane, a strumpet", orig. woman attached to the court, fem. of cortigiano. In quotation 1565 directly from Italian"