Also 7 corant(e, corrant. [a. F. courant runner, subst. use of courant running, posting (Cotgr.). With sense 2 cf. Du. krant (from korant) gazette, newspaper.]
† 1. ? An express (messenger or message). Obs.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia (1629), 168. A Corante was granted against Master Deputy Farrar, and … others … to plead their causes before, the Lords of his Maiesties Priuy Councell.
1632. B. Jonson, Magn. Lady, I. Wks. (Rtldg.), 442/1. For his relations, Corants, avisos, correspondences With this ambassador, and that agent!
1642. Strangling Gt. Turk, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), V. 190. Shameless reports of strange men, and weak certificates by courants from foreign parts.
1727. W. Mather, Yng. Man’s Comp., 26. Courant, a Messenger.
2. A paper containing news; a published newsletter or newspaper. (Now only in names of newspapers, esp. in Scotland and northern counties.)
1621. Bp. H. King, Sermon, 59. Euery fabulous Gazette, and idle Corante that posts betwixt England and Doway.
1626. Raleigh’s Ghost, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), III. 529. The liberty of these times (wherein your courants, gazettes, pasquils, and the like, swarm to abundantly.
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Underwoods, lxi. Vulcan. The weekly courants with Paul’s seal; and all Th’ admired discourses of the prophet Ball.
1642. Howell, For Trav. (Arb.), 27. There are in Paris every week commonly some odde Pamphlets and Pasquils dispersed … which with the Gazets and Courants hee should do well to reade weekly.
1774. Foote, Cozeners, I. Wks. 1799, II. 146. Journals, chronicles, morning and evening posts, and courants.
Courant sb.3: see COURANTE.
