Obs. Forms: 4–5 courtepy, -by, kourtepy, courtpy, curt(e)by, -py, 5 cowrt(e)by, (cowrbe, 6 courtby, 7–9 courtpie, cote-a-pye). [app. a. MDu. korte pîe, i.e., korte short + pîe, coat of coarse woollen stuff, now pij: cf. PEA-coat, -jacket.] A short coat, cloak or tabard of coarse material, worn in the 14th and 15th centuries.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 63. A kertil & a courtepy [B. V. 80 kourteby, curteby, curtepy]. Ibid. (1377), B. VI. 191. An heep of heremites … ketten here copes, and courtpies [v.r. curtepies, curtbyes, curtebies] hem made, And wenten as werkemen with spades and with schoueles.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 290. A Clerk ther was of Oxenford … Ful thredbare was his ouerest courtepy [Lansd. courteby]. Ibid., Friar’s T., 82. A gay yeman … He hadde vp-on a courtepy of grene [Petw. courtepie, Lansd. courteby]. Ibid. (a. 1400), Rom. Rose, 220. She was clad ful porely, Al in an old torn courtepy.
1425. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 655. Hoc epitogium, a cowrteby.
1483. Cath. Angl., 79/2. A Cowrbe [v.r. Cowrtby], renale, emitogium.
[1605. Camden, Rem. (1657), 196. They had also about this time [Rich. II.] … a short gabbardin called a court-pie.
1843. Lytton, Last Bar., I. v. Going out in that old courtpie and wimple—you a knight’s grandchild. Ibid., III. ii.]
