To draw the curtain

To draw the curtain
Curtain Cur"tain (k[^u]r"t[i^]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}.] [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster]

2. (Fort.) That part of the rampart and parapet which is between two bastions or two gates. See Illustrations of {Ravelin} and {Bastion}. [1913 Webster]

3. (Arch.) That part of a wall of a building which is between two pavilions, towers, etc. [1913 Webster]

4. A flag; an ensign; -- in contempt. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • draw the curtain — To draw it aside, so as to show what is behind, or to draw it in front of anything so as to hide it • • • Main Entry: ↑curtain …   Useful english dictionary

  • draw the curtain on or over — idi draw the curtain on or over a) to bring to a close b) to keep secret …   From formal English to slang

  • draw the curtain — pull down the curtain, draw the screen …   English contemporary dictionary

  • draw the blinds/curtain/shades on — to end (something that has been continuing for a long time) Let s draw the curtain on this investigation. see also ↑draw 5b (above), 1 • • • Main Entry: ↑draw …   Useful english dictionary

  • The curtain falls — Curtain Cur tain (k[^u]r t[i^]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}.] [1913 Webster] 1 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • The curtain rises — Curtain Cur tain (k[^u]r t[i^]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}.] [1913 Webster] 1 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To drop the curtain — Curtain Cur tain (k[^u]r t[i^]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}.] [1913 Webster] 1 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Behind the curtain — Curtain Cur tain (k[^u]r t[i^]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}.] [1913 Webster] 1 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To draw a curtain — draw draw (dr[add]), v. t. [imp. {Drew} (dr[udd]); p. p. {Drawn} (dr[add]n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Drawing}.] [OE. dra[yogh]en, drahen, draien, drawen, AS. dragan; akin to Icel. & Sw. draga, Dan. drage to draw, carry, and prob. to OS. dragan to bear,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To draw the longbow — draw draw (dr[add]), v. t. [imp. {Drew} (dr[udd]); p. p. {Drawn} (dr[add]n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Drawing}.] [OE. dra[yogh]en, drahen, draien, drawen, AS. dragan; akin to Icel. & Sw. draga, Dan. drage to draw, carry, and prob. to OS. dragan to bear,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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