a way of greeting

[shabani]

Hello everyone,
Could anyone please tell me the word ( either the noun or verb) for a way of greeting which was common among women probably in the Victorian era; In this type of greeting the woman with both hands holds up her long skirt just a little bit off the ground to show respect for someone she has just met.

Thanks in advance

 

[5jj]

Could anyone please tell me the word ( either the noun or verb) for a way of greeting which was common among women probably in the Victorian era; In this type of greeting the woman with both hands holds up her long skirt just a little bit off the ground to show respect for someone she has just met.

That's new to me. Where did you hear of this?

 

[BobK]

That's new to me. Where did you hear of this?

And to me.

b

PS On the subject of greetings, you might find this interesting (though it doesn't answer your question).

 

[5jj]

It's just occurred to me that shabani may be referring to a curtsey.

 

[BobK]

:up: Very likely. And s/he'll note from that link that it can be both a noun and a verb. It was the 'Victorian' that led me astray; people still curtsey today, though not so often, in either very formal or theatrical contexts. My sister (in the early sixties, in the days when schoolchildren knew the meaning of respect ;-)) was expected to curtsey whenever she met a teacher (it was a very slight bending at the knee, and momentary touching of the hem, called 'bobbing a curtsey').

b

 

[SoothingDave]

I believe the skirt was originally lifted to facilitate the movement of the legs during the curtsy. Then it became ceremonial.

Note that my browser likes this spelling.

 

[Raymott]

I think the essential nature of a curtsey is that you are lowering yourself before another person, as in bowing. My guess is that holding up their dress was to avoid it getting muddy. With short dresses, they are still held, but outwards.
Images Search

 

[5jj]

:up: Very likely. And s/he'll note from that link that it can be both a noun and a verb. It was the 'Victorian' that led me astray

Me too. I am guessing that shabani may have seen some film/TV adaptation of aJane Austen novel .Here's how it was done formally a few years ago.

My sister (in the early sixties, in the days when schoolchildren knew the meaning of respect ;-)) was expected to curtsey whenever she met a teacher (it was a very slight bending at the knee, and momentary touching of the hem, called 'bobbing a curtsey').

I used to feel very embarrassed as a young teacher in Germany in the sixties when the 13-year-old daughter of the (rather old-fashioned) headmaster of my school would 'knicksen' (bob a curtsey) if we met in the corridor.

 

[shabani]

Thank you all,
Yes, That's exactly what I was looking for. The reason I thought it's no longer used is that I've only seen it in old movies.
And thank you for the links, they were very useful.