kɔ:t n. & v. --n. 1 (in full court of law) a an
assembly of judges or
other persons
acting as a
tribunal in
civil and criminal cases. b =
COURTROOM. 2 a an enclosed quadrangular
area for games,
which may be
open or covered (tennis-court; squash-court). b an area
marked out for lawn
tennis etc. (hit
the ball out of court). 3 a a
small enclosed
street in a
town, having a yard surrounded by houses, and adjoining a larger street. b
Brit. =
COURTYARD. c (Court) the
name of a
large house,
block of flats, street, etc. (Grosvenor Court). d (at Cambridge University) a
college quadrangle. e a
subdivision of a
building, usu. a large
hall extending to the
ceiling with galleries and staircases. 4 a the
establishment,
retinue, and courtiers of a
sovereign. b a sovereign and
his or
her councillors, constituting a
ruling power. c a sovereign's
residence. d an assembly
held by a sovereign; a
State reception. 5
attention paid to a
person whose favour,
love, or
interest is
sought (paid court to her). 6 a the qualified members of a
company or a
corporation. b (in
some Friendly Societies) a
local branch. c a
meeting of a court. --v.tr. 1 a
try to
win the
affection or favour of (a person). b pay
amorous attention to (courting couples). 2
seek to win (applause,
fame, etc.). 3
invite (misfortune) by one's actions (you are courting disaster). øcourt-card a
playing-card that is a
king,
queen, or
jack (orig. coat-card). court
circular Brit. a
daily report of
royal court affairs, published in some newspapers. court
dress formal dress
worn at a royal court. court-house 1 a building in which a
judicial court is held. 2 US a building containing the
administrative offices of a
county. Court leet see
LEET(1). Court of
Appeal a court of
law hearing appeals
against judgements in the
Crown Court,
High Court, County Court, etc. Court of
Protection Brit. the
department of the
Supreme Court attending to the affairs of the mentally
unfit. court of
record a court whose proceedings are recorded and
available as
evidence of
fact. Court of St James's the
British sovereign's court. Court of
Session the supreme civil court in Scotland. court of
summary jurisdiction a court having the
authority to
use summary proceedings and
arrive at a
judgement or
conviction. court
order a
direction issued by a court or a
judge, usu. requiring a person to do or
not do
something. court
plaster hist. sticking-plaster for cuts etc. (formerly used by
ladies at court for face-patches). court
roll hist. a manorial-court
register of holdings. court
shoe a woman's
light, usu. high-heeled, shoe with a low-cut upper. court tennis US real tennis. go to court
take legal action. in court appearing as a party or an
advocate in a court of law. out of court 1 (of a plaintiff) not entitled to be heard. 2 (of a settlement) arranged
before a hearing or judgement can take
place. 3 not
worthy of
consideration (that
suggestion is out of court). [ME f. AF
curt, OF cort, ult. f. L cohors, -hortis yard, retinue: (v.)
after OIt. corteare, OF courtoyer]