coulisse

American  

[koo-lees] / kuˈlis /

noun

1. a timber or the like having a groove for guiding a sliding panel.

2. Theater.

   1. the space between two wing flats, leg drops, or the like.

   2. any space or area backstage.

   3. wing flat.

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coulisse British  

/ kuːˈliːs /

noun

1. Also called: cullis.  a timber member grooved to take a sliding panel, such as a sluicegate, portcullis, or stage flat

2. 1. a flat piece of scenery situated in the wings of a theatre; wing flat

   2. a space between wing flats

3. part of the Paris Bourse where unofficial securities are traded Compare parquet

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Etymology

Origin of coulisse

1810–20; < French: groove, something that slides in a groove; see portcullis

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coulisse

Hovering somewhere in the coulisse of these performances, there seems to be an anxiety about authenticity.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 9, 2012

Not but that he was accustomed to a certain frank female admiration; but then it was of the coulisse, and not of the cloister, with which he always persisted in associating Mrs. Decker.

From Tales of the Argonauts by Harte, Bret

Portcullis is from Old Fr. porte coulisse, sliding door.

From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Weekley, Ernest

From the powerful draught of air, which, coming from behind the scenes, may well be termed vent de coulisse, the room is as cold as the season.

From Paris as It Was and as It Is by Blagdon, Francis W.

As is usual at that time, there was a crowd around the delivery-window; but by means of the simple contrivance of a gallery, or coulisse, each applicant was enabled to take his turn.

From The Guerilla Chief And other Tales by Reid, Mayne