Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Curtain \Cur"tain\ (k?r"t?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}.]
   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.

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

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

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

   {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.

            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.