portiere

or por·tière

[ pawr-tyair, -teer, pohr-, pawr-tee-air, pohr- ]

noun

1. a curtain hung in a doorway, either to replace the door or for decoration.

portière

/ ˌpɔːtɪˈɛə; pɔrtjɛr /

noun

1. a curtain hung in a doorway

Derived Forms

• ˌportiˈèred, adjective

Other Words From

• por·tiered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of portiere¹

1835–45; < French portière < Medieval Latin portāria, noun use of feminine of Late Latin portārius; porter ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of portiere¹

C19: via French from Medieval Latin portāria, from Latin porta door

Example Sentences

“So sad I got fat and had to resort to Scarlett curtains and portieres, disguised as caftans and djellabas!” he said.

From New York Times

A 20-foot-long hallway was cut down to size with curtains to create portieres that signal the entrance to the master bedroom suite.

From Los Angeles Times

On one side of the room heavy dark portieres hung over a doorway.

From Literature

At that moment Virginia pushed aside the portiere and silently stepped into the room.

From Project Gutenberg

He had a horrid vision of driving up to the door, having the portiere ask him his errand, perhaps of having Miss Allen look out of the window and see the scene.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• decoration
• drape
• drapery
• screen
• shade
• shroud
• shutter
• veil