(especially in the past) a person who is part of the court of a king or queen (尤指旧时的)侍臣,侍从,廷臣 Word OriginMiddle English: via Anglo-Norman French from Old French cortoyer ‘be present at court’, from cort, from Latin cohors, cohort- ‘yard or retinue’. The verb is influenced by Old Italian corteare, Old French courtoyer.