Curtsy

A formal gesture of respect in which a person bends the knees, often lowering the body while keeping the upper body upright.

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Bowing: A gesture of respect or greeting made by lowering the head or upper body. Unlike a bow, a curtsy centers on bending the knees.
Court of Louis XIV: The royal household and political center of France under Louis XIV at Versailles. Its elaborate etiquette helped spread formal court gestures across Europe.
Court presentation: A formal ceremony in which a person is introduced to a monarch or royal household. A curtsy has served as a prescribed act of deference during royal introductions.
Deference: Respectful submission to another person's authority, judgment, or status. A curtsy traditionally communicates deference toward someone of higher rank.
Kneeling: The act of lowering the body until one or both knees rest on a surface. A curtsy briefly bends the knees without settling into a kneeling posture.
Versailles: A French royal palace and seat of government under Louis XIV. Versailles became a prominent setting for the courtly customs associated with curtsying.
Ballet: A theatrical dance form using codified steps, gestures, and body positions. Performers often curtsy to acknowledge applause after a ballet.
Gender roles: Social expectations about behavior associated with women, men, and gender categories. The curtsy became strongly associated with feminine etiquette.
Reverence: A formal gesture of respect, often involving a slight bow or curtsy. Reverence names the restrained form a curtsy can take.
European court etiquette: Formal rules of conduct practiced in European royal and aristocratic courts. Curtsying developed within a broader system of rank-conscious court behavior.