Chapter Coup de Grace to Coute que Coute of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

1892, p. 920.

Course To keep on the course. To go straight; to do one's duty in that course [path] of life in which we are placed. The allusion is to racing horses.

“We are not the only horses that can't be kept on the courses- with a good turn of speed, too.”- Boldrewood: Robbery under Arms, chap. xv.

Court originally meant a coop or sheepfold. It was on the Latium hills that the ancient Latins raised their cors or cohors, small enclosures with hurdles for sheep, etc. Subsequently, as many men as could be cooped or folded together were called a corps or cohort. The “cors” or cattle- yard being the nucleus of the farm, became the centre of a lot of farm cottages, then of a hamlet, town, fortified place, and lastly of a royal residence.
   Court. A short cut, alley, or paved way between two main streets. (French, court, “short,” as prendre un chemin court, “to take a short cut.”)
   Out of court. Not worth consideration; wholly to be discarded, as such and such an hypothesis is wholly out of court, and has been proved to be untenable. “No true bill.”

Court Circular Brief paragraphs supplied to certain daily papers by an officer (the Court Newsman) specially appointed for the purpose. He announces the movements of the sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and the court generally; gives reports of the levees, drawing-rooms, state balls, royal concerts, meetings of the Cabinet ministers, deputation to ministers, and so on. George III., in 1803, introduced the custom to prevent misstatements on these subjects.

Court-cupboard The buffet to hold flagons, cans, cups, and beakers. There are two in Stationers' Hall.

"Away with the joint-stools, remove the court-cupboard, look to the plate." - Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, i.5.

Court Fools (See Fools .)

Court Holy Water Fair speeches, which look like promises of favour, but end in nothing.

Court Plaster The plaster of which the court ladies made their patches. These patches, worn on the face, were cut into the shape of crescents, stars, circles, diamonds, hearts, crosses; and some even went so far as to patch their face with a coach-and-four, a ship in full sail, a château, etc. This ridiculous fashion was in vogue in the reign of Charles I.; and in the reign of Anne was employed as the badge of political partisanship. (See Patches.)

"Your black patches you wear variously,
Some cut like stars, some in half-moons, some lozenges."
Beaumont and Fletcher: Elder Brother, iii.2.

Court of Love A judicial court for deciding affairs of the heart, established in Provence during the palmy days of the Troubadours. The following is a case submitted to their judgment: A lady listened to one admirer, squeezed the hand of another, and touched with her toe the foot of a third. Query, Which of these three was the favoured suitor?

Court of Pie-powder (See Pie Poudre .)

Court of the Gentiles (The). They are but in the Court of the Gentiles. They are not wholly God's people; they are not the elect, but have only a smattering of the truth. The "Court of the Israelites" in the Jewish temple was for Jewish men; the "Court of the Women" was for Jewish women; the "Court of the Gentiles" was for those who were not Jews.

"Oh, Cuddie, they are but in the Court of the Gentiles,and will ne'er win farther ben, I doubt," - Sir W. Scott: Old Mortality, chap. viii.

Courtesy Civility, politeness. It was at the courts of princes and great feudatories that minstrels and pages practised the refinements of the age in which they lived. The word originally meant the manners of the court.

Courtesy Titles Titles assumed or granted by social custom, but not of any legal value. The courtesy title of the eldest son of a duke is marquis; of a marquis is earl; of the eldest son of an earl is viscount. Younger sons of peers are by courtesy called lord or honourable, and the daughters are lady or honourable. These titles do not give the holders official rank to sit in the House of Lords. Even the Marquis of Lorne, the Queen's son-in-law, is only a commoner (1894).