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Added 6 October 2026

courtesan

/kɔːtɪˈzæn/ noun

In Latin: meretrix Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about courtesan at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A female prostitute, especially one with high-status or wealthy clients.
The mistress of a royal or noble.
A woman of a royal or noble court.

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana, feminine of cortigiano (“courtier”), from corte (“court”), itself from Latin cohors.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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