courtesan n. + Add to list UK //kˈɔːtɪzən// cour·te·san Archaic SynonymsEtymology Synonyms concubinedoxyparamourOriginLATcohors→ITAcortigiana→ENcourtesan Borrowed from Middle French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana, feminine of cortigiano (“courtier”), from corte (“court”), itself from Latin cohors.