A respectful greeting made by bending the knees slightly while lowering the body, traditionally performed by women and girls.
From the word 'courtesy,' which evolved in pronunciation and spelling to 'curtsey.' The movement literally embodies courtesy or respect toward someone of higher status.
Curtseying is the female version of bowing—both are ways people used to show respect. The word 'curtsey' comes from 'courtesy' because the action itself demonstrates courtesy to the person you're greeting.
Curtsey derives from 'courtesy,' originally a courtly gesture performed by all nobles. By the 16th century it became encoded as a feminine gesture of deference, while men bowed. This gendered split entrenched curtseys as a specifically female bodily submission to hierarchy.
Use 'bow' or 'gesture of respect' for gender-neutral contexts. If historical curtsey-specific, clarify the gendered practice rather than normalizing it as universal etiquette.
["bow","gesture of respect","courtly acknowledgment"]
Women historically lacked choice in this gesture—it was prescribed social compliance. Modern women who curtsey reclaim it consciously; acknowledge this was once enforced rather than chosen.
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