curtains
/ˈkɜːrtənz/
noun
Origin
Latin
cortina — curtain, enclosure, or cauldron
Overview
Meaning Now
- A piece of hanging fabric used to screen a window or to divide a room.
- A hanging screen or drapery that obscures a stage from the audience's view.
Literal older meaning
that which encloses or hangs
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
curtin
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term derives from the late Latin 'cortina', which originally referred to a curtain or canopy, but in classical usage could also refer to a cauldron or a circular enclosure. Through Old French, it evolved specifically to denote textile hangings used for privacy around beds or for obscuring architectural openings.
Evolution
- Latin
cortina
“a small court or enclosure”
- Old French
cortine
“a bed-hanging or wall-drapery”
- Middle English
curtin
“a hanging screen”
- English
curtains
“modern drapery”
Connections
Word parts
curtain
root
hanging screen
s
ending
plural marker
Related across languages
French
courtine
curtain (often in a defensive fortification context)
Spanish
cortina
curtain
Explore next
Related to curtains
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.