persiennes

American  

[pur-zee-enz, per-syen] / ˌpɜr ziˈɛnz, pɛrˈsjɛn /

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) Persian blinds.

2. (used with a singular verb) a printed or painted fabric of cotton or silk.

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persiennes British  

/ ˌpɜːsɪˈɛnz /

plural noun

1. Also called: Persian blinds.  outside window shutters having louvres to keep out the sun while maintaining ventilation

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Etymology

Origin of persiennes

1835–45; < French, noun use of plural of persienne, feminine of persien, obsolete variant of persan Persian

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

persiennes

A small, miserable-looking house stood in it, shut up, with broken persiennes covering the windows.

From The Doctor's Dilemma by Stretton, Hesba

I looked through the half-open persiennes with a semi-presentiment that it was my sweet foreigner who was leaving ere I could presume on my clematis or improve our acquaintance.

From Cecil Castlemaine's Gage, Lady Marabout's Troubles, and Other Stories by Ouida

Very different to the lazy drawing up of a roller-blind in England is the swinging open of a pair of French persiennes.

From Her Royal Highness Woman by O'Rell, Max

She got up, walked across the floor to the open window and unfastened the persiennes.

From The Garden of Allah by Hichens, Robert Smythe

"The signore is welcome," replied the old woman as she clattered into the narrow, cheaply furnished little sitting-room, which was in half darkness owing to the persiennes being closed.

From Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo by Le Queux, William