Hypertext Webster Gateway: "curtain"

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)

Curtain
(1.) Ten curtains, each twenty-eight cubits long and four wide,
made of fine linen, also eleven made of goat's hair, covered the
tabernacle (Ex. 26:1-13; 36:8-17).

(2.) The sacred curtain, separating the holy of holies from
the sanctuary, is designated by a different Hebrew word
(peroketh). It is described as a "veil of blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work" (Ex. 26:31; Lev.
16:2; Num. 18:7).

(3.) "Stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain" (Isa. 40:22),
is an expression used with reference to the veil or awning which
Orientals spread for a screen over their courts in summer.
According to the prophet, the heavens are spread over our heads
as such an awning. Similar expressions are found in Ps. 104:2l;
comp. Isa. 44:24; Job 9:8.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Curtain \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.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

curtain
n 1: hanging cloth used as a blind [syn: {drape}, {drapery}, {mantle},
{pall}]
2: any barrier to communication or vision; "a curtain of
secrecy"; "a curtain of trees"
v : provide with curtains, as of a room or a window


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