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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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)

---

arras ² British  

/ ˈærəs /

noun

1. a wall hanging, esp of tapestry

---

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

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

From Washington Post • Aug. 10, 2015

So frequently does the play come up, indeed, that it has become a tradition at the annual Critics' Circle dinner to nail one Sambuca for every arras you've seen stabbed.

From The Guardian • Oct. 11, 2010

It is only possible to do the job properly from behind the arras.

From The Guardian • Oct. 9, 2010

There is much talk of a design in the arras.

From Time Magazine Archive

The arras that hid my father and Claudius barely stirred.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Related Words

• drapery