See Also: curtain(1)(dictionary)
curtain(2)(dictionary)
curtain(encyclopedia)
Curtain - Bowling(gambling)
curtain raiser(dictionary)
curtain rail(dictionary)
curtain hook(dictionary)
curtain call(dictionary)
curtain 2, verb(dictionary)
curtain 1, noun(dictionary)

curtain (sh)




Panel of decorative fabric hung to regulate the admission of light at a window and to prevent drafts.

Curtains made of a heavy material, arranged to fall in ornamental folds to the floor, are called draperies. Mosaics from the 2nd-6th century show curtains suspended from rods spanning arches. From the Middle Ages to the 19th century, curtains ranged in style from simple to ornamented; beds were often curtained on all sides. In the 20th century, synthetic fabrics and mechanical devices for opening and closing curtains simplified their installation and use.