Also 7–8 cortex. [Sp. and Pg. pl. of corte COURT, ‘a princes court,… a parliament, a court of aldermen; hazer cortes to call a parliament’ (Minsheu, 1599).]
The two chambers or houses, constituting the legislative assembly of Spain and of Portugal.
1668. Lond. Gaz., No. 234/1. The next day … the Cortes, or Great Council of the Kingdom [Portugal] Assembled. Ibid. (1696), No. 3239/2. Here is a Talk of Calling together the Cortes, or States of Spain. Ibid. (1712), 5068/1. The Cortez adjourn’d.
1827. Southey, Hist. Penins. War, II. 615. By convoking a Cortes more numerous and free.
1862. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., i. 20. In Arragon the Cortes was of sufficient weight to constitute a Mixed Monarchy.
