Court-cupboard (R. and J. i. 5), a moveable state cupboard, on the receding shelves of which the family-plate was arranged and displayed on festive occasions, as on our side-boards.
Court-holy-water (Lear, iii. 2), eau bénite de la cour, flattery, or rather words without deeds, as plentiful and as lavishly used in courts as holy water in churches.
Cousin. This word was used, in its primitive sense of consanguineus, of any one that was akin.
Creep. Creeping to the Cross was an act of devotion in Popish times. It is alluded to in Tr. and Cr. iii. 3.
Cross-row (R. III. i. 1), i.e. Christ-cross-row, the alphabet, because the sign of the Cross was placed at the head of it.
Cuckoo-bud (L. L. L. v. 2), probably the cowslip, which Singer tells us, from Lyte's Herbal (1578), was called in French coquu primevère, brayes de coquu, and Herbe à coquu.
Cue. "Q., a note of entrance for actors; because it is the first letter of quando, when, showing when to enter and speak" (Buller, the English Grammar, 1634). This, however, seems a very forced and pedantic derivation, and the ordinary one, from queue, Fr., seems preferable. Florio, however, says, "a prompter, one who keeps the books for the players and teacheth them, or scholars their kue."
Cupid's flower (M. N. D. iv. 1). See [Love in Idleness].
Curate (curé, Fr.), the incumbent of a parish; not what is now so termed.
Curiosity (Lear, i. 2), scrupulousness, affected delicacy, or niceness. Curious (T. of Sh. iv. 4) has the same sense.