curtsyverb [ I ]
also curtsey uk/ˈkɜːt.si/us/ˈkɝːt.si/When a girl or woman curtsies, she bends quickly at the knees, with one foot in front of the other, often while holding her skirt, especially to show respect:
She curtsied to the Queen.
Compare
bow verb
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Physical gestures of respect
- bow 1
- doff
- doff your hat to sb/sth idiom
- fistbump
- genuflect
- handshake
- prostrate
- salaam
- salute
curtsynoun [ C ]
also curtsey uk/ˈkɜːt.si/us/ˈkɝːt.si/a movement in which a girl or woman bends quickly at the knees, with one foot in front of the other, especially to show respect:
She gave a curtsy before presenting the flowers to the princess.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Physical gestures of respect
- bow 1
- doff
- doff your hat to sb/sth idiom
- fistbump
- genuflect
- handshake
- prostrate
- salaam
- salute