[f. COURT v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb COURT.
† 1. Residence at or frequenting of the court; the practice of a courtier. Obs.
1515. Barclay, Egloges, II. (1570), B. iij/2. All courting I defye, More clenness is kept within some hogges stye.
1556. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer (1561), II. N ij b. To finde oute som what to saie for one nyghte of Courting.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 784. For he is practiz’d well in policie, And thereto doth his Courting most applie.
2. The paying of courteous attention, in order to win favor or love; paying of addresses, wooing.
1607. Heywood, Fayre Mayde, Wks. 1874, II. 18. A plague on this courting.
1649. Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., III. iv. 259. A gainfull courting of so pleasing a mistresse.
1655. Sir E. Nicholas, in N. Papers (Camden), II. 350. There is danger by too much courting of enemyes to loose frinds.
3. attrib.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, IV. xvii. 259. Is it a drinking day, or a Courting day, and no day of Turnament?
1784. J. Potter, Virtuous Villagers, II. 113. Vows of constancy and adoration engage some of our courting hours.
