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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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