To lower in rank or remove from a position of honor; to strip of courtly or noble status.
From de- (reduce or remove) + court (the royal residence or nobility). 'Court' comes from Old French 'cort' and Latin 'cohors,' originally meaning an enclosed space or group of followers.
Medieval documents use 'decourt' to describe stripping someone of rank—it's the opposite of 'accourt' (to honor at court)—showing how language reflected the brutal politics of losing royal favor overnight.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.