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Webster 1913 Edition

Curtain

Cur′tain

(kûr′tĭn; 48)
,
Noun.
[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.

–
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

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Curtained
(kûr′tĭnd; 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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Curtain

CURTAIN

,
Noun.
[Low L., in fortification. This word may be from the root of court, and from the sense of separating.]
1.
A cloth hanging round a bed, or at a window, which may be contracted, spread or drawn aside at pleasure; intended for ornament, or for use. Also, the hangings about the ark, among the Israelites.
2.
A cloth-hanging used in theaters, to conceal the stage from the spectators. This is raised or let down by cords. Hence the phrases, to drop the curtain, to close the scene, to end; to raise the curtain or the curtain will rise, to denote the opening of the play. And to draw the curtain, is to close it, to shut out the light or to conceal an object; or to open it and disclose the object. Behind the curtain, in concealment, in secret.
3.
In fortification, that part of the rampart which is between the flanks of two bastions, bordered with a parapet five feet high, behind which the soldiers stand to fire on the covered way and into the moat.
4.
In scripture, tents; dwellings. Habakkuk 3:7.

CURTAIN

,
Verb.
T.
To inclose with curtains; to furnish with curtains.

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