a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage.
2.
a person who seeks favor by flattery, charm, etc.
Origin: 1250–1300; ME courteour < AF courte(i)our, equiv. to OF cortoy(er) to attend at court (deriv. of courtcourt) + AF -our < L -ōr--or2; suffix later conformed to -ier1