portiere

Or por·tière

[pawr-tyair, -teer, pohr-, pawr-tee-air, pohr-]

noun

1. a curtain hung in a doorway, either to replace the door or for decoration.

portière

/ ˌpɔːtɪˈɛə, pɔrtjɛr /

noun

1. a curtain hung in a doorway

Other Word Forms

• portièred adjective
• portiered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of portière¹

1835–45; < French portière < Medieval Latin portāria, noun use of feminine of Late Latin portārius; porter ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of portière¹

C19: via French from Medieval Latin portāria, from Latin porta door

Example Sentences

“So sad I got fat and had to resort to Scarlett curtains and portieres, disguised as caftans and djellabas!” he said.

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A 20-foot-long hallway was cut down to size with curtains to create portieres that signal the entrance to the master bedroom suite.

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He thought he saw Cathy’s door close very silently, but perhaps the leaping candlelight had fooled his eyes, for a portiere seemed to move too.

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At that moment Virginia pushed aside the portiere and silently stepped into the room.

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He had a horrid vision of driving up to the door, having the portiere ask him his errand, perhaps of having Miss Allen look out of the window and see the scene.

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Related Words

• decoration 
• drape 
• drapery 
• screen 
• shade 
• shroud 
• shutter 
• veil