1. A prostitute or mistress, especially one associated with rich, powerful, or upper-class men or clients who are members of a royal court; or men of high social standing, who provide her with luxuries and status.
2. Etymology: from Middle French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana, "prostitute"; literally, "woman of the court"; feminine of cortigiano, "one attached to a court", from corte, "court", from Latin cortem, "enclosed yard".