arras

¹ American  

[ar-uhs] / ˈær əs /

noun

1. a rich tapestry.

2. a tapestry weave.

3. a wall hanging, as a tapestry or similar object.

4. Theater. a curtain suspended loosely across a stage and used as a backdrop or part of a stage setting.

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arras ² American  

[ahr-ahs, ahr-rahs] / ˈɑr ɑs, ˈɑr rɑs /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. a gift presented at marriage by a husband to his wife in consideration of her dowry.

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Arras ³ American  

[ar-uhs, a-rahs] / ˈær əs, aˈrɑs /

noun

1. a city in and capital of Pas-de-Calais, in N France: battles in World War I.

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Arras ¹ British  

/ arɑs, ˈærəs /

noun

1. a town in N France: formerly famous for tapestry; severely damaged in both World Wars. Pop: 40 590 (1999)

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arras ² British  

/ ˈærəs /

noun

1. a wall hanging, esp of tapestry

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Other Word Forms

• arrased adjective

Etymology

Origin of arras¹

1375–1425; late Middle English, named after Arras

Origin of arras²

< Spanish: literally, earnest money. See earnest ²

Example Sentences

Was my father, as he crouched behind the arras, yet another unwilling player in a drama contrived by Claudius?

From Literature

Gawaine sat gloomily on one of the side benches placed there for petitioners, with his arms folded and his head against the arras.

From Literature

Staged moments — characters eavesdropping like Polonius behind his arras, lovers exchanging vows — baldly recall the genre’s cliches.

From Washington Post

In Mayer’s description, life around Charles was “every bit as brutal as in the days when a twitching arras might signal a hidden assassin.”

From Washington Post

But I don't like it when they jump up and down behind the arras like Polonius in Hamlet, trying to distract my attention from the poor old actors.

From The Guardian

Related Words

• drapery