COURE, obsolete form of COWER.
COURIER, k[=oo]'ri-[.e]r, _n._ a runner: a messenger: a state messenger: a
travelling attendant: a frequent title of newspapers. [Fr.,--L.
_curr[)e]re_, to run.]
COURSE, k[=o]rs, _n._ the act of running: the road or tract on which one
runs: the direction pursued: a voyage: a race: regular progress from point
to point: habitual method of procedure: a prescribed series, as of
lectures, &c.: each of the successive divisions of a meal, as dinner:
conduct: a range of bricks or stones on the same level in building:
(_naut._) one of the sails bent to a ship's lower yards, as the main-sail,
called the _main-course_, the fore-sail or _fore-course_, and the
cross-jack or _mizzen-course_: (_pl._) the menses.--_v.t._ to run, chase,
or hunt after.--_v.i._ to move with speed, as in a race or hunt.--_ns._
COURS'ER, a runner: a swift horse: one who courses or hunts; COURS'ING,
hunting with greyhounds; COURS'ING-JOINT, a joint between two courses of
masonry.--IN COURSE, in regular order: (_coll._) of course; OF COURSE, by
natural consequence, or by settled rule. [Fr. _cours_--L. _cursus_, from
_curr[)e]re_, _cursum_, to run.]
COURT, k[=o]rt, _n._ a space enclosed: a space surrounded by houses: the
palace of a sovereign: the body of persons who form his suite or council:
attention: civility, as 'to pay court:' (_law_) the hall of justice; the
judges and officials who preside there: any body of persons assembled to
decide causes, whether civil, military, or ecclesiastical.--_v.t._ to pay
attentions to: to woo: to solicit: to seek.--_ns._ COURT'-BAR'ON, the
assembly of freehold tenants of a manor under a lord; COURT'-CARD (see
COAT-CARD); COURT'-CUP'BOARD (_Shak._), a movable cupboard or sideboard on
which plate was displayed; COURT'-DAY, a day on which a judicial court
sits; COURT'-DRESS, the special regulation costume worn on state or
ceremonious occasions; COURT'-DRESS'ER, a flatterer.--_adj._ COURTEOUS
(kurt'yus), of court-like manners: polite: respectful: obliging.--_adv._
COURTEOUSLY (kurt'-).--_ns._ COURTEOUSNESS, (kurt'-); COURT'-FOOL, a fool
or jester, formerly kept at court for amusement; COURT'-GUIDE, a guide to,
or directory of, the names and residences of the nobility in a town;
COURT'-HAND, a modification of the Norman handwriting, as distinguished
from the modern or Italian handwriting, in use in the English law-courts
from the 16th century to the reign of George II.; COURT'-HOUSE, a building
where the law-courts are held; COURT'IER, one who frequents courts or
palaces: one who courts or flatters; COURT'IERISM, the behaviour or
practices of a courtier.--_adv._ COURT'IERLY.--_ns._ COURT'ING, paying
addresses to a woman, wooing; (_Spens._) attendance at court; COURT'-LEET,
a court of record held in a manor before the lord or his steward;
COURT'LET, a petty court.--_adj._ COURT'-LIKE, courtly: polite.--_ns._
COURT'LINESS; COURT'LING, a hanger-on at court.--_adj._ COURT'LY, having
manners like those at a court: elegant.--_ns._ COURT'-MAR'TIAL, a court
held by officers of the army or navy for the trial of offences against
military or naval laws:--_pl._ COURTS'-MAR'TIAL; one improvised in time of
war round an upturned drum for summary judgment is a DRUMHEAD
COURT-MARTIAL; COURT'-PLAS'TER, sticking-plaster made of silk, originally
applied as patches on the face by ladies at court; COURT'-ROLL, the record
of a court of justice; COURT'SHIP, courtly behaviour: the act of wooing
with intention to marry; COURT'-SWORD, a light dress-sword worn as part of
court-dress; COURT'YARD, a court or enclosed ground before a house.--COURT
HOLY WATER, empty compliments: (_obs._) flattery. [O. Fr. _cort_ (Fr.
_cour_)--Low L. _cortis_, a courtyard--L. _cors_, _cohors_, an enclosure;
akin to Gr. _chortos_, an enclosed place, L. _hortus_, a garden. See YARD.]
COURTESAN, -ZAN, k[=o]rt'e-zan, or kurt'e-zan, _n._ a court-mistress: a
woman of the town, a whore. [Fr.,--It. _cortigiana_.]
COURTESY, kort'e-si, or kurt'e-si, _n._ courtliness: elegance of manner: an
act of civility or respect: a curtsy: (_law_) the life interest which the
surviving husband has in the real or heritable estate of his wife.--_v.i._
to make a curtsy.--_pr.p._ court'esying; _pa.p._ court'esied.--_n.pl._
COURT'ESY-T[=I]'TLES, titles really invalid, but allowed by the usage of
society--as to children of peers. [O. Fr. _courtoisie_.]
COUSCOUS, kus'kus, _n._ an African dish of granulated flour steamed over
broth. [Ar. _kuskus_.]
COUSIN, kuz'n, _n._ formerly a kinsman generally; now, the son or daughter
of an uncle or aunt: a term used by a sovereign in addressing another, or
to one of his own noblemen: something kindred or related to another.--_ns._
COUS'IN-GER'MAN, a first cousin: something closely related; COUS'INHOOD,
COUS'INSHIP.--_adj._ COUS'INLY, like, or having the relation of, a
cousin.--_n._ COUS'INRY, cousins collectively.--FIRST COUSINS, children of
brothers and sisters--also called _Cousins-german_, _Full cousins_; FIRST
COUSIN ONCE REMOVED, the son or daughter of a cousin-german--sometimes
loosely called _Second cousin_; SECOND COUSINS, the children of first
cousins. [Fr.,--L. _consobrinus_--_con_, sig. connection, and _sobrinus_
for _sororinus_, applied to the children of sisters--_soror_, a sister.]
COUTEAU, koo-t[=o]', _n._ a large knife.--COUTEAU DE CHASSE, a
hunting-knife. [Fr.]
COUTER, k[=oo]'t[.e]r, _n._ (_slang_) a sovereign. [Said to be from Gipsy
_cuta_, a gold piece.]