Why did women curtsy

Children routinely knelt when asking their parents for permissions or blessings -- even when wishing them good night! Commoners knelt to their overlords, and of course everyone knelt before the King or Queen. But the late 16th and 17th centuries saw a gradual substitution of a mere bow or curtsey for kneeling, and kneeling was increasingly reserved in Protestant circles for God alone.

The question that is being asked was clarified in billythebrit's follow-up post: "No, my question is why that particular physical action: why the lowering of the neck for men and the bending of the knee for woman. Why does the woman curtsey and not bow and why does the man bow and not curtsey? Baloo55th Answer has 7 votes.

Baloo55th 19 year member replies Answer has 7 votes. Currently voted the best answer. Bowing is a sign of submission - one is presenting one's neck to a person who probably has a sword. One is demonstrating that the other is superior and has the right ro chop, but also demonstrating that one has the confidence that the chop will not happen. Similar positioning responses occur in quite a few animals. A lady would not be in the position of acknowledging the other person as a military superior or conqueror, but the bending of the knee indicates a lowering of height, and thus an acknowledgement of the other persons superiority.

Bows in males between equals or near equals are short and not deep like bows to a superior - just a quick bend of the neck and then straighten.

This is continued in the nod to an acquaintance. It's all not so much a historical reason as a formalising of the responses common to us and animals. Get a new mixed Fun Trivia quiz each day in your email. It's a fun way to start your day! Nglish: Translation of curtsy for Spanish Speakers. Britannica English: Translation of curtsy for Arabic Speakers. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Log in Sign Up. Save Word. Definition of curtsy Entry 1 of 2.

Definition of curtsy Entry 2 of 2. Examples of curtsy in a Sentence Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In ballet parlance, the term refers to a bow or curtsy performed at the end of class to acknowledge the teacher and accompanist, or at the conclusion of a performance to recognize the audience. First Known Use of curtsy Noun , in the meaning defined above Verb circa , in the meaning defined above.

History and Etymology for curtsy Verb alteration of courtesy. Learn More About curtsy. Time Traveler for curtsy The first known use of curtsy was in See more words from the same year.

Overdoing eye contact might be seen as showing off. Obviously struggling to return to a standing position is judged unseemly in royal circles. The Royal Family's official line is that "there are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family", but its website notes that despite this, "many people wish to observe the traditional forms". One of those who opted for the handshake was Cherie Blair, which "attracted controversy as it was seen as making a statement about her republican views", says royal historian Carolyn Harris.

Many people choose to curtsy or bow when meeting a member of the Royal Family as it shows "respect and good manners", says Mr Partridge. The Queen is quite relaxed about it however and a simple handshake will suffice. But I think people do like the idea of tradition. Ms Money-Coutts says the whole notion can seem faintly ludicrous now, adding: "Curtseying was from the days of big crinoline skirts and they would fall very dramatically - the deeper the curtsy, the more effective it was.

But, she adds: "It's mad, but I love it. It's quite eccentric. There are fairly complicated rules about which royals curtsy to whom, as Mr Partridge explains. Ms Money-Coutts adds: "I do wonder what happens behind closed doors and if they bother with all that bowing and bobbing when they're coming down to breakfast. Mr Partridge adds: "You do find people can go overboard and do very flamboyant curtseys and bows.

These big, grandiose gestures are a bit over the top. It's also been noted that Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, is a fan of the deep curtsy, as demonstrated in front of the Queen at Royal Ascot this summer.

Mamma Mia star Julie Walters admitted that when she was made a dame, she had to ask herself "when do I curtsy? She's not the only one to find investitures nerve-wracking, with actress Sarah Lancashire saying she was worried she'd fall over when she curtsied. Well if you thought that the standard curtsy was a bit much, there is also the Texas Dip, traditionally used at debutante balls, as Mr Partridge from Debrett's explains.

The legs are crossed and you drop your back knee to the ground, so you sit down with your legs folded. Perhaps Mrs May's curtsy isn't so unusual after all. The etiquette rules for meeting the Queen.