valance — a length of decorative drapery hung across the top of a window or around a bed
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a length of decorative drapery hung across the top of a window or around a bed
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈvæləns/
Example Sentences
- The lace valance made the plain window look elegant and romantic.
- My grandmother's bedroom had a ruffled valance that looked like a tutu for the window.
- The interior designer suggested a simple valance to hide the curtain rod.
valance
NOUN[/ˈvæləns/]
a length of decorative drapery hung across the top of a window or around a bed
Decorative window top drapery
A perfect valance needs perfect balance!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Medieval French 'avalant' (descending, falling down), originally referring to decorative fabric that hung downward from beds or windows. The term evolved through Old French usage to describe drapery suspended from furniture or architectural elements.
Breakdown
avalant (falling down, from à- (to) + val (valley, downward)) → valance. The shift from 'avalant' to 'valance' reflects English phonetic adaptation of the French source term.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The lace valance made the plain window look elegant and romantic.”
“My grandmother's bedroom had a ruffled valance that looked like a tutu for the window.”
“The interior designer suggested a simple valance to hide the curtain rod.”
“She spent three hours trying to hang the valance, only to realize it was upside down.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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