Adjacent Words

Valance definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

VAL'ANCE, n.
The fringes of drapery hanging round the tester and head of a bed.
VAL'ANCE, v.t. To decorate with hanging fringes.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a decorative framework to conceal curtain fixtures at the top of a window casing [syn: cornice, valance, valance board, pelmet]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English valaunce, from Anglo-French valence, probably from valer to lower — more at vail Date: 15th century 1. a drapery hung along the edge of a bed, table, altar, canopy, or shelf 2. a short drapery or wood or metal frame used as a decorative heading to conceal the top of curtains and fixtures • valanced adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (also valence) a short curtain round the frame or canopy of a bedstead, above a window, or under a shelf. Derivatives: valanced adj. Etymology: ME ult. f. OF avaler descend: see VAIL

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Valance Val"ance, n. [Perhaps fr. OF. avalant descending, hanging down, p. pr. of avaler to go down, let down, descent (cf. Avalanche); but probably from the town of Valence in France.] 1. Hanging drapery for a bed, couch, window, or the like, especially that which hangs around a bedstead, from the bed to the floor. [Written also valence.] Valance of Venice gold in needlework. --Shak. 2. The drooping edging of the lid of a trunk. which covers the joint when the lid is closed.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Valance Val"ance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Valanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Valancing.] To furnish with a valance; to decorate with hangings or drapery. His old fringed chair valanced around with party-colored worsted bobs. --Sterne.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(valances) 1. A valance is a piece of cloth that hangs down over the sides of a bed in order to make it look nice. N-COUNT 2. A valance is a long narrow piece of wood or fabric which is fitted at the top of a window for decoration and to hide the curtain rail. (AM; in BRIT, use pelmet) N-COUNT

Moby Thesaurus

beading, binding, bordering, bordure, edging, fimbria, fimbriation, flounce, frill, frilling, fringe, furbelow, galloon, hem, list, motif, ruffle, selvage, skirting, trimming, welt