Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Curtain?

\Cur"tain\ (k?r"t?n; 48), n. [OE. cortin, curtin,fr. OF. cortine, curtine, F. courtine, LL. cortina, curtian (in senses 1 and 2), also, small court, small inclosure surrounded by walls, from cortis court. See {Court}.] 1. A hanging screen intended to darken or conceal, and admitting of being drawn back or up, and reclosed at pleasure; esp., drapery of cloth or lace hanging round a bed or at a window; in theaters, and like places, a movable screen for concealing the stage. 2. (Fort.) That part of the rampart and parapet which is between two bastions or two gates. See Illustrations of {Ravelin} and {Bastion}. 3. (Arch.) That part of a wall of a building which is between two pavilions, towers, etc. 4. A flag; an ensign; -- in contempt. [Obs.] --Shak. {Behind the curtain}, in concealment; in secret. {Curtain lecture}, a querulous lecture given by a wife to her husband within the bed curtains, or in bed. --Jerrold. A curtain lecture is worth all the sermons in the world for teaching the virtues of patience and long-suffering. --W. Irving. {The curtain falls}, the performance closes. {The curtain rises}, the performance begins. {To draw the curtain}, to close it over an object, or to remove it; hence: (a) To hide or to disclose an object. (b) To commence or close a performance. {To drop the curtain}, to end the tale, or close the performance.
\Cur"tain\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Curtained} (-t?nd; 48); p. pr. & vb. n. {Curtaining}.] To inclose as with curtains; to furnish with curtains. So when the sun in bed Curtained with cloudy red. --Milton.