[法] 同curtesy of England

Curtesy \Cur"te*sy\ (k?r"t?-s?), n.; pl. {Curtesies} (-s?z).
[Either fr. courlesy, the lands being held as it were by
favor; or fr. court (LL. curtis), the husband being regarded
as holding the lands as a vassal of the court. See {Court},
{Courtesy}.] (Law)
the life estate which a husband has in the lands of his
deceased wife, which by the common law takes effect where he
has had issue by her, born alive, and capable of inheriting
the lands. --Mozley & W.