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portiere

or por·tière

[pawr-tyair, -teer, pohr-, pawr-tee-air, pohr-]
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noun
  1. a curtain hung in a doorway, either to replace the door or for decoration.
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Origin of portiere

1835–45; < French portière < Medieval Latin portāria, noun use of feminine of Late Latin portārius; see porter2
Related formspor·tiered, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for portiere

Historical Examples

  • If that is good the rug or portiere or table-cover is beautiful.

    How to make rugs

    Candace Wheeler

  • Drawing the portiere aside, the Dean held it for the other's passage.

  • She stopped just inside the portiere, and waited for him to speak.

    April Hopes

    William Dean Howells

  • "A telegram, Miss Gertrude," said James, drawing aside the portiere.

  • In the hallway he added a double door, with a "portiere" to the inner one.

    The Two Brothers

    Honore de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for portiere

portière

noun
  1. a curtain hung in a doorway
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Derived Formsportired, adjective

Word Origin

C19: via French from Medieval Latin portāria, from Latin porta door
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for portiere

n.

door curtain, 1843, from French portière, from Medieval Latin portaria, fem. singular of Latin portarius "belonging to a door or gate" (see porter (n.2)).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper