- 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. 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.
