valance

[ val-uhns, vey-luhns ]

noun

1. a short curtain or piece of drapery that is hung from the edge of a canopy, from the frame of a bed, etc.
2. a short ornamental piece of drapery placed across the top of a window.

valance

/ ˈvæləns /

noun

1. a short piece of drapery hung along a shelf, canopy, or bed, or across a window, to hide structural detail

Derived Forms

• ˈvalanced, adjective

Other Words From

• valanced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of valance¹

1400–50; late Middle English; perhaps after Valence, French city noted for cloth-making

Word History and Origins

Origin of valance¹

C15: perhaps named after Valence , France, town noted for its textiles

Example Sentences

Bits of shiny carbon fiber help to stabilize the vehicle at higher speeds, including a lengthened roof spoiler and a new aerodynamic lower rear valance.

From Popular-Science

Starting at the front valance, the raw carbon look advances down the side of the DBX707, notably making up the sill, or rocker panel, which has been reshaped to better move air around the rear wheel.

From Popular-Science

At this point Marvin gives his Liberty Valance smile, the kind that makes you wish you could disintegrate in front of him.

From The Daily Beast

When the legend becomes fact,” a journalist says of Wayne in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, “we print the legend.

From The Daily Beast

So Sara Lee got into her white bed with the dotted Swiss valance, and drew the covers to her chin, and looked a scant sixteen.

From Project Gutenberg

But, as no assignable sense has been found for valance, I can only suppose that it is an error for falance or fallance.

From Project Gutenberg

Christina looked along his arm, along the lifted revolver, to what was now only a dark opening in the valance.

From Project Gutenberg

He still stood with his back to her, and, from under his bent brows, his glance shot up and found the parting of the valance.

From Project Gutenberg

It had high posts and curtains and valance of pale-blue flowered chintz.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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