Main Entry: cour·te·san

Pronunciation: \ˈkȯr-tə-zən, -ˌzan also ˈkər-, -ˌzän; especially British ˌkȯr-tə-ˈzan\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle French courtisane, from northern Italian dial. form of Italian cortigiana woman courtier, feminine of cortigiano courtier, from corte court, from Latin cohort-, cohors

Date: 1533

: a prostitute with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele